Moral Determinism

Rhetorical Ploy

Maw-Rull Dee-Terr-Min-Izum

Philosophical position of pro-fascists, used for understanding the causes of terrorism.

The belief that responsibility for an action is is held not by its immediate perpetrator, but entirely by actors earlier in the causal chain.

"You bastard, you left all the windows and doors of my house open and tipped off Jimmy Nightstick that I was away. Now all my stuff's been nicked!"

"That sounds like moral determinism to me. Do you believe that Jimmy Nightstick is not an autonomous moral agent, but a mere automaton whose actions are the inevitable, unconscious consequences of mine? Well, if you think he's such an idiot I suggest you tell him so - here he comes now. By the way, I told him you shagged his wife."

See also Terrorists Are Bad, Failures In The Reconstruction Process, If-It-Hadn't-Been-For-You-Darn-Meddling-Kids.