Manipulation and Morality

Abstract This chapter begins by arguing that manipulation is both prima facie and pro tanto morally wrong. It is prima facie wrong because sometimes manipulation is not wrong at all. It is pro tanto wrong because sometimes manipulation’s moral wrongness is outweighed by other moral considerations. For short, we shall call manipulation “presumptively” wrong. But why is manipulation presumptively wrong? Popular answers include the claim that manipulation harms the target, that it undermines the target’s autonomy, and that it treats the target as a mere means. However, each of these explanations faces serious problems. A better answer derives from the Mistake Account itself: Being mistaken is a kind of failure and thus a kind of misfortune. Nevertheless, manipulation often harms the target or undermines the target’s autonomy. The chapter ends by exploring how the parallel between deception and manipulation can assist us in moral evaluations of individual cases of manipulation.