Abstract
How do people attribute responsibility in situations where the contributions of multiple agents combine to produce a joint outcome? The prevalence of over-determination in such cases makes this a difficult problem for counterfactual theories of causal responsibility. In this article, we explore a general framework for assigning responsibility in multiple agent contexts. We draw on the structural model account of actual causation (e.g., Halpern & Pearl, 2005) and its extension to responsibility judgments (Chockler & Halpern, 2004). We review the main theoretical and empirical issues that arise from this literature and propose a novel model of intuitive judgments of responsibility. This model is a function of both pivotality (whether an agent made a difference to the outcome) and criticality (how important the agent is perceived to be for the outcome, before any actions are taken). The model explains empirical results from previous studies and is supported by a new experiment that manipulates both pivotality and criticality. We also discuss possible extensions of this model to deal with a broader range of causal situations. Overall, our approach emphasizes the close interrelations between causality, counterfactuals, and responsibility attributions.
Highlights
Three police marksmen killed a barrister during a siege at his house in London
We draw on the structural model account of causality (Pearl, 2000/2009; Halpern & Pearl, 2005; Woodward, 2003), and its extension to responsibility judgments (Chockler & Halpern, 2004). Building on this theoretical work, we will propose a novel model of intuitive judgments of responsibility that is a function of both pivotality and criticality
We show that incorporating the notion of criticality explains additional deviations from the predictions of the structural model and we present a new experiment to test the respective roles of criticality and pivotality in intuitive judgments of responsibility
Summary
Suicidal, but the negotiators were unable to persuade him to surrender. After holding up a suicide note at the window, the barrister aimed his rifle at the police. They argued that the police should have considered letting the barrister’s wife, or his close friend, speak to him during the siege; that the police gave insufficient weight to the fact the barrister was an alcoholic, who was drunk and vulnerable; and that the police command structure was inadequate Despite these criticisms, the jury decided that none of these shortcomings contributed to the barrister’s death.. During the siege the police decided that allowing the wife to speak to the barrister might endanger her life, or lead to a hostage situation, or accelerate the barrister’s suicide by allowing him to say good-bye to his wife These are a complex set of issues that hinge upon both causal and counterfactual thinking. Our approach emphasizes the close interrelations between causality, counterfactuals, and responsibility attributions
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
