Philosophy Normative Ethics Questions Long
The concept of moral agency refers to the capacity of individuals to make moral judgments and be held morally responsible for their actions. It is the idea that individuals have the ability to act in accordance with moral principles and are accountable for the consequences of their choices.
Moral luck, on the other hand, is the notion that factors beyond an individual's control can influence the moral assessment of their actions. It suggests that luck plays a role in determining the moral worth of an action, even if the individual's intentions and efforts were the same.
When considering the relationship between moral agency and moral luck, it becomes apparent that moral agency can be affected by the presence of moral luck. This is because moral luck challenges the idea that individuals have complete control over their actions and their moral worth.
There are four types of moral luck that can impact moral agency:
1. Resultant Luck: This refers to the luck involved in the outcomes or consequences of an action. For example, a driver who accidentally hits a pedestrian due to poor visibility may be seen as morally unlucky, even if their intention was to drive safely. The outcome of the action influences the moral assessment, despite the individual's intentions.
2. Circumstantial Luck: This type of moral luck relates to the circumstances in which an individual finds themselves. For instance, a person who grows up in a disadvantaged environment with limited access to education and resources may face more challenges in making morally informed decisions. Their circumstances can affect their moral agency, as they may not have had the same opportunities as others to develop a strong moral character.
3. Constitutive Luck: Constitutive luck refers to the luck involved in an individual's character traits and dispositions. Some individuals may naturally possess more virtuous qualities, such as empathy or self-control, while others may struggle with these traits. This constitutive luck can influence an individual's moral agency, as their innate characteristics can impact their ability to make morally right choices.
4. Causal Luck: Causal luck refers to the luck involved in the factors that lead to an action. It recognizes that an individual's actions are influenced by a complex web of causal factors, including genetic predispositions, upbringing, and external influences. These factors can affect an individual's moral agency, as they may not have complete control over the causes that lead to their actions.
In summary, moral agency and moral luck are interconnected concepts. Moral agency refers to the capacity of individuals to make moral judgments and be held morally responsible for their actions. However, moral luck challenges the idea that individuals have complete control over their actions and their moral worth. Different types of moral luck, such as resultant luck, circumstantial luck, constitutive luck, and causal luck, can impact an individual's moral agency by introducing factors beyond their control that influence the moral assessment of their actions.