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The problem of many hands: climate change as an example
Ibo van de Poel1, Jessica Nihlén Fahlquist, Neelke Doorn
1Department of Technology, Policy and Management, Technical University Delft, P.O. Box 5015, 2600 GA Delft, The Netherlands. I.R.vandepoel@tudelft.nl
Science and Engineering Ethics
|May 3, 2011
Summary
The problem of many hands arises when it is difficult to assign individual responsibility for collective actions. This study defines it as a morally problematic gap in responsibility distribution, influenced by backward-looking and forward-looking accountability senses.
Area of Science:
- Moral Philosophy
- Ethics
- Social Responsibility
Background:
- Collective actions can lead to undesirable outcomes where individual accountability is unclear.
- The 'problem of many hands' describes situations where responsibility diffusion makes it hard to assign blame.
- Understanding this phenomenon is crucial for addressing complex societal issues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the nature and conditions of the problem of many hands.
- To propose a precise definition for when this problem constitutes a moral issue.
- To analyze the factors influencing the distribution of responsibility in collective scenarios.
Main Methods:
- Conceptual analysis of responsibility and collective action.
- Case study analysis, using climate change as a primary example.
- Distinction between backward-looking (retributive) and forward-looking (consequentialist) senses of responsibility.
Main Results:
- The problem of many hands is defined as a morally problematic gap in responsibility distribution.
- The moral significance of this gap depends on the reasons for responsibility distribution.
- The employed sense of responsibility (backward-looking vs. forward-looking) is a key factor.
Conclusions:
- A clear definition of the problem of many hands aids in understanding and addressing collective responsibility failures.
- Recognizing the role of different responsibility senses is vital for ethical analysis of group actions.
- This framework offers insights into managing collective action problems in areas like climate change.
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