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Show Rationality and the Structure of the Self, Volume II: A Kantian Conception 405 does (2) imply that the moral importance of an agent's pain is such that it may never be outweighed by other moral considerations. What it does imply is that it may never be ignored or belittled because of them. 5.3. Recognition of Insight Next let us look at 5.2.(b). According to 5.2.(b), Smith denies that Vogeler actually offended Washington, by suggesting that Washington's pain is largely self-generated by her tendency to see slights where none were intended. Earlier it was suggested that Washington would have to be irrational to accept the suggestion that Vogeler's intrusive and personal remarks to her, and his disparaging comments to others about her, were anything less than obviously offensive. Yet it is possible that, as Smith maintains, Vogeler's behavior was nevertheless not the main cause of Washington's pain. And it is also possible that Washington wrongly imputes offensive intent where none exists. To see this more clearly, consider an analogous case, that of the insensitive busybody. Once the insensitive busybody finds out that you have failed your law boards or are getting a divorce, you will never be allowed to forget it. In his concern for your distress, the insensitive busybody never fails to ask you how you are handling the disappointment, and to express concern for your wellbeing and state of mind. Whenever you encounter the insensitive busybody socially, he will dilate upon this topic at length: will commiserate, suggest coping strategies, recommend relevant readings, and solicit the opinion of others as to how you should best manage your personal crisis. At first you may be gratified by his concern. But after awhile, it will be difficult not to take offense at his continually dwelling on your professional or social inadequacies. And it will be difficult not to suspect that he intends to remind you of those inadequacies, even if in fact he has no such intention. If he has none, it will be true both that he is not the sole cause of your pain, and also that you are imputing offensive intent where none exists. For at this point the other, and perhaps main cause of your pain will be your false imputation to the insensitive busybody of the offensive intent to remind you of your inadequacies. It will be your mistaken assumption that he intends to cause you pain that causes you pain, more than anything he actually does. It is possible that Vogeler is like the insensitive busybody: tactless, insensitive, frightened, insecure, lacking both in social skills and in the modal imagination necessary to envision the psychological effect of his behavior on others - but nevertheless guileless. It may be, in short, that Vogeler is a basket case; and that the diplomatic response would be to ignore him, as Smith suggests. But even if this explanation of Vogeler's behavior were accurate, it would not acquit him of causal responsibility for Washington's pain. That pain is caused, not only by her putative tendency to see offensive intent where none exists, but also by Vogeler's deliberate behavior, which is intrinsically offensive regardless of intent. Nor would this explanation of Vogeler's © Adrian Piper Research Archive Foundation Berlin |
