Can a risk of harm itself be a harm?. (8th February 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rowe, Thomas
• Is Part Of: Analysis. Volume 81:Number 4(2021)
• Page Start: 694
• Page End: 701
• Publication Date: 2022-02-08
• Subjects: Philosophy -- Periodicals; 105
• DOI: 10.1093/analys/anab033
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0003-2638

Abstract

Abstract: Many activities impose risks of harm on other people. One such class of risks are those that individuals culpably impose on others, such as the risk arising from reckless driving. Do such risks in themselves constitute a harm, over and above any harm that actually eventuates? This paper considers three recent views that each answer in the affirmative. I argue that each fails to overcome what I call the 'interference objection'. The risk of harm itself, whether taken as a subjective or an objective risk, is unable to interfere with the interests of victims in order to constitute a harm. This does not mean that a risk of harm cannot itself be wrongful, but the conclusion does weaken the moral objectionableness of impositions of risks of harm.