The Principles avoid taking account of fault, as Professor Wardle details at length in this volume. The Principles in this respect extend a trend of the past several decades toward the development of the no-fault marriage, the no-fault family, and the no-fault legal system. There have also been tendencies toward the emergence of a no-fault public culture, a no-fault system of social morality, and even perhaps toward a normative psychology which encourages the individual to maintain an attitude of continuous self-congratulation.

This chapter argues that the recognition of fault, in others and oneself, is actually a good thing because it is inextricably linked to the remedial side of certain basic personal and social goods. Recognition of fault has a special place with regard to marriage and the family.

How is the recognition of fault a good thing? This chapter approaches the question in three stages. First, it considers obligation, since fault relates to violation of duty, presenting an account of the goods involved in having an obligation, accepting it, and acting upon it.