The Ethics of Cancelling

Abstract In recent years, there has been a great deal of public debate about cancelling and cancel culture. So far though, this phenomenon has received little attention from moral philosophers. This paper addresses issue by investigating the nature of cancelling and the conditions under which it is appropriate. We begin by examining the origins of the term before investigating Linda Radzik’s account of cancelling as a form of social punishment which is morally appropriate only if the person being punished deserves it and harming them will lead to better consequences than alternative courses of action. We argue that cancelling refers to a wider range of phenomena than Radzik acknowledges. It may also be a form of reputation correction, the ending of a parasocial relationship, or a way of holding informal representatives to account. As we argue, these different kinds of moral practice call for different kinds of ethical justification.