Single Idea 6700

[catalogued under 22. Metaethics / C. The Good / 1. Goodness / i. Moral luck]

Full Idea

It is unreasonable to say that people have acted badly because of consequences which were not merely unforeseen but unforeseeable.

Gist of Idea

We can't criticise people because of unforeseeable consequences

Source

Gordon Graham (Eight Theories of Ethics [2004], Ch.7)

Book Reference

Graham,Gordon: 'Eight Theories of Ethics' [Routledge 2004], p.143


A Reaction

Interesting, and it sounds right. A key question in moral philosophy is how much effort people should make to assess the consequences of their actions. We must surely absolve them of the truly 'unforeseeable' consequence.