Abstract

Both moral and metaphysical objections have been brought against the doctrines of Original Sin and Original Guilt. This chapter considers at length recent attempts to rescue the doctrine of Original Guilt by invoking and motivating an enabling metaphysics to account for its problematic features. Despite the considerable philosophical credentials and advantages offered by the candidates for the enabling background metaphysics—namely, Four Dimensionalism and Stage Theory (two theories about the persistence of human persons) and Counterpart Theory (a non-standard account of de re temporal predication)—the rescue attempt ultimately fails in an illuminating way. In particular, the metaphysics only delays and redirects the primary objection from moral responsibility. A failed rescue, however, is not a refutation, and the chapter ends with a brief review of other strategies for revival and a tentative recommendation of suspension of judgment with respect to the doctrine of Original Guilt.