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Difference between revisions of "Act-Omission Distinction"
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Act-Omission Distinction (view source)
Revision as of 04:43, 18 January 2022
, 04:43, 18 January 2022→Overview
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== Overview == | == Overview == | ||
The debate over the act-omission distinction is whether there is a moral distinction between choosing to take an action or choosing to not take an action. | The debate over the act-omission distinction is whether there is a moral distinction between choosing to take an action or choosing to not take an action. | ||
For instance, suppose Person <math>A</math> sees that Person <math>B</math> is about to fall off a cliff, could stop that from happening, but chooses not to. Across the ravine, Person <math>C</math> pushes Person <math>D</math> off the cliff. Is Person <math>A</math> just as responsible for Person <math>B</math>'s death as Person <math>C</math> is responsible for Person <math>D</math>'s death? | For instance, suppose Person <math>A</math> sees that Person <math>B</math> is about to fall off a cliff, could stop that from happening, but chooses not to. Across the ravine, Person <math>C</math> pushes Person <math>D</math> off the cliff. Is Person <math>A</math> just as responsible for Person <math>B</math>'s death as Person <math>C</math> is responsible for Person <math>D</math>'s death? | ||
Those in favor of the act-omission distinction would say that <math>A</math> is not responsible for <math>B</math>'s death because <math>A</math> did not actively kill <math>B</math>. Those against the act-omission distinction would say that <math>A</math> is just as responsible for <math>B</math>'s death because <math>A</math> made the choice to not save <math>B</math>. | Those in favor of the act-omission distinction would say that <math>A</math> is not responsible for <math>B</math>'s death because <math>A</math> did not actively kill <math>B</math>. Those against the act-omission distinction would say that <math>A</math> is just as responsible for <math>B</math>'s death because <math>A</math> made the choice to not save <math>B</math>. | ||
=== Debate Applications === | === Debate Applications === | ||
Often, debaters running [[utilitarianism]] will justify there not being an act-omission distinction and say that only consequentialist frameworks can hold agents morally culpable in such a manner. It's worth noting that this argument doesn't actually justify util but more-so excludes frameworks that operate under the assumption of there being an act-omission distinction. | Often, debaters running [[utilitarianism]] will justify there not being an act-omission distinction and say that only consequentialist frameworks can hold agents morally culpable in such a manner. It's worth noting that this argument doesn't actually justify util but more-so excludes frameworks that operate under the assumption of there being an act-omission distinction. | ||
== Common Arguments == | == Common Arguments == | ||
=== Act-Omission Distinction === | === Act-Omission Distinction === | ||