A Simple Analysis of Harm
Jens Johansson, Olle Risberg
Abstract
In this paper, we present and defend an analysis of harm that we call the Negative Influence on Well-Being Account (NIWA). We argue that NIWA has a number of significant advantages compared to its two main rivals, the Counterfactual Comparative Account (CCA) and the Causal Account (CA), and that it also helps explain why those views go wrong. In addition, we defend NIWA against a class of likely objections, and consider its implications for several questions about harm and its role in normative theorizing.
Topics & Concepts
Counterfactual thinkingHarmNormativeSimple (philosophy)Class (philosophy)EpistemologyPositive economicsCounterfactual conditionalLaw and economicsSociologyEconomicsPsychologyPhilosophySocial psychologyPsychology of Moral and Emotional JudgmentFree Will and AgencyEthics in medical practice