The Difference Is...

[woodwardiocom]

Three parallel situations:

• "You didn't have a bike lock? No wonder it got stolen, you doofus."
  
• "You walked through that part of town at midnight waving around an expensive cell phone? You idiot, no wonder you got mugged!"
  
• "You were dressed like that when you were sexually assaulted? You kinda asked for it."

My social circles regard the first two as appropriate replies, and the third as absolutely not. I agree with that, but on analysis, am having trouble articulating the relevant distinction.

Edit: Many thanks for the answers thus far. They've helped.

Comments

[whswhs.livejournal.com]

I don't consider the dichotomy of moral and practical obligations to be valid. I adhere to the classical view (found for example in Aristotle, Aquinas, or Spinoza) in which prudence is not merely a moral virtue but the essence of morality.

[ricevermicelli.livejournal.com]

I'm not impressed by the classical view you're espousing, as it seems to elide the idea that the essence of morality might involve not committing assaults against one's fellows.