Full Idea
One of the most obvious facts about blame is that in many cases it is effective only if the recipient thinks that it is justified.
Gist of Idea
Blame usually has no effect if the recipient thinks it unjustified
Source
Bernard Williams (How free does the will need to be? [1985], 5)
Book Reference
Williams,Bernard: 'Making Sense of Humanity: Papers 1982-1993' [CUP 1995], p.15
A Reaction
The point of the blame might not be reform of the agent, but a public justification for punishment as deterrence, in which case who cares what the agent thinks? Is blame attribution of causes, or reasons to punish?