This inquiry primarily concerns a group-coming-first metaphysical picture, that groups are ontologically prior to individuals. To better characterize such a relation, I advance a proposal called Group Grounding Middleism, whereupon I identify and individuate groups, and then I suggest a new conception about individual existence. In passing, deploying techniques of Group Grounding Middleism, I also develop an account of group action and a theory of group responsibility, which arguably proves advantageous in practice. I eventually conclude with a prospect of our (...) future group-talks. (shrink)

Fine’s Paradox, an insider critique of philosophical grounding, suggests that everything is grounded in its own existence. If it obtained, the project of philosophical grounding would be both ideologically and technically problematic. Given previous attempts targeting either on Fine’s argumentation or logical features of grounding, I will argue for one proposal citing the notion of Grounding Pluralism, a once misunderstood or underestimated notion, to empty the paradox. Moreover, I will also illustrate why this proposal is theoretically more beneficial, compared to (...) other potential options, and why it is almost a cure. (shrink)

Asymmetry Thesis proposed by Susan Wolf says, that if one agent is blameworthy, then he should have the ability to do otherwise, while if he is praiseworthy, then he is not required to have the ability to do otherwise (Wolf 1990, 79–81). In this paper, I try to advance a new proposal in defense of Asymmetry Thesis from a perspective intersecting our discussion of moral responsibility and our discussion of virtue ethics. That is, I propose to argue that a promising (...) defense of Asymmetry Thesis may appeal to the silencing feature of moral virtues (McDowell, 1979, 1998), which proves supportive to both the initial thesis and its defending arguments (e.g., Wolf 1990). In particular, I will review Wolf’s defending argument (sec. 3), demonstrate an account on the silencing feature of moral virtues, therefrom advance my argument in support of Asymmetry Thesis (sec. 4), and consider several potential objections (sec. 5). (shrink)