Moral Luck
Definition: Moral luck refers to the phenomenon where an individual’s moral character and the or evaluative judgments of their actions are significantly influenced by factors that are beyond their control or foresight.
Subtypes of Moral Luck:
- Resultant Luck: Resultant luck pertains to the consequences or outcomes of an individual’s actions, which may lead to variations in moral judgments of their conduct. For instance, someone who drives under the influence of alcohol might unintentionally hit and kill a pedestrian, leading to more severe moral condemnation compared to if they had driven safely without any unfortunate consequences.
- Circumstantial Luck: Circumstantial luck relates to the external factors or circumstances that surround an action and can influence the moral assessment of the individual. For example, an individual who unintentionally causes a car accident due to slippery road conditions might be judged less harshly compared to someone causing an accident due to reckless driving in perfect weather conditions.
- Constitutive Luck: Constitutive luck concerns the innate characteristics or traits of an individual that affect their moral judgments. Attributes such as natural talents, temperament, or genetic predispositions can influence how a person is evaluated morally, even though they have no control over these inherent aspects.
- Causal Luck: Causal luck refers to the arbitrary factors present in an individual’s life that can shape their moral character without their conscious influence. For instance, the values and beliefs instilled by one’s parents or the culture they are raised in can significantly impact their moral behavior, though they did not actively choose those influences.
Moral luck highlights the inherent complexities and challenges in assigning absolute responsibility and culpability, as it underscores how factors beyond an individual’s control can influence moral judgments.