If we are not morally responsible, what does this mean for our public and private lives?

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Say we should never be held morally responsible - in the sense that we cannot truly (or 'basically') deserve praise or blame for our actions (Fischer 2007, Pereboom 2014). What would this mean - practically speaking - for our public policy and for how we interact with one another? To date, philosophers have largely skirted this question. My project will confront it head-on, investigating the implications of our lacking this 'basic desert moral responsibility' within two domains. First, the 'interpersonal' domain: where we treat each other as morally responsible in our everyday interactions through exhibiting 'reactive attitudes' (Strawson 1962) such as gratitude or resentment. Second, the domain of public policy: specifically, those policies and systems whereby society rewards the 'praiseworthy' and punishes the 'blameworthy'.To make progress on these matters I will develop an account of justifiable moral responsibility practices, which has application to both domains. I envisage this account will emphasise the role that particular background, situational conditions play in determining whether ascriptions of moral responsibility lead tomorally problematic outcomes. I will also explore how our appraisive practices in non-moral domains (most notably, art and sports) can teach us how we might amend our practices of moral praising and blaming. Finally I will draw up a set of recommendations for how we ought to reform our practices in bothdomains, if a skeptical approach to basic desert moral responsibility is taken.I am perfectly positioned to undertake this research. I have a BA in Philosophy (First) and an MA in Global Ethics & Human Values (Distinction). I received a prize for best overall grade in my MA class (74). Following my MA, I took up positions in local government policy and project management roles. This hasgiven me a unique insight into many of the policy problems I wish to investigate in this research, as well as experience of delivering complex projects to a deadline. My work experience has also given me a wider perspective on how philosophical argument is translated effectively into public policy, which I willcall upon in drawing out the real-world applicability of my research.I am delighted to have identified a cross-institutional supervisory team which ideally fits my research topic. My proposed supervisors Chris Woodard and Aness Webster at Nottingham are leading philosophers on issues of moral responsibility; likewise Jussi Suikkanen at Birmingham who focuses on the meta-ethical dimensions of the subject.