Sarah Tulien, executive director of the Creator Accountability Network, joins to delve into the philosophy of luck. She discusses how our perceptions of luck intertwine with free will, and the subjective versus objective nature of luck's impact on personal experiences. The conversation critiques traditional views of responsibility and explores the complexities of decision-making influenced by biases. Tulien emphasizes how cultural backgrounds shape our understanding of luck, urging listeners to rethink agency and moral judgment in a world where everything is intertwined with chance.
The podcast emphasizes the philosophical exploration of luck, distinguishing between superstitious and non-superstitious concepts central to moral responsibility.
The control account of luck asserts that luck arises from situations beyond one's personal control, challenging traditional notions of moral agency.
Two key chance accounts of luck—the probabilistic and accidental—illustrate the complexities in categorizing luck and understanding its consequences.
The discussion on free will suggests that relinquishing deterministic views can significantly alter our understanding of accountability and ethical behavior.
Deep dives
Introduction to Luck
The podcast discusses the concept of luck, emphasizing its philosophical underpinnings. It distinguishes between superstitious and non-superstitious forms of luck, focusing primarily on the latter as this is where most philosophical debates arise. Different philosophical accounts of luck are explored, including the control, chance, and modal accounts. Understanding how these definitions shape the understanding of luck is pivotal for later discussions in the chapter.
Control and Luck
The control account posits that luck involves situations beyond one's control, raising questions about moral responsibility. It addresses different types of control, such as direct and relevant control, which help in understanding when a person can be held responsible for their actions. The podcast argues that society often conflates luck with choice, dismissing the deep-rooted control that multiple factors, including societal circumstances and personal genetics, play in one's decisions. By examining the nature of control, this account seeks to clarify the concept of moral luck.
Chance Accounts of Luck
Two primary chance accounts of luck are identified: the probabilistic account and the accidental account. The probabilistic account refers to events that are unlikely or unpredictable, presenting examples like winning the lottery as common instances of luck. The accidental account, however, defines luck in terms of unintended results, blurring the line between luck and lack of control. The discussion emphasizes the complexity of categorizing luck based on chance and the challenges involved in drawing clear distinctions between these accounts.
Modal Account and its Complexities
The modal account introduces the idea of 'possible worlds' and defines luck as events that are modally fragile, meaning they would not occur in similar circumstances in most alternate scenarios. This account carries significant philosophical implications but faces criticism for its reliance on a concept of counterfactual thinking that could be seen as speculative. The hosts discuss how this account can both address examples of luck that the chance account struggles with yet could ultimately be interchangeable with the control account. Overall, the modal view raises questions surrounding determinism and how we assess risk and unpredictability.
Significance in Luck Definitions
The discussion highlights the significance condition and how something must matter to an individual for it to count as luck. This implies a broader understanding that significance is not solely subjective, and the interconnected nature of events puts them all under the umbrella of luck. The philosophy asserts that every event has consequences that resonate beyond individual perception, thereby tying everyone into a web of luck. By reassessing what defines significance, this idea reinforces the interconnectedness of experiences and the impact of chance on individuals.
Free Will and Luck
The podcast transitions to discussing free will, exploring the relationship between the concept of free will and moral responsibility within the framework of luck. It argues that traditional ideas of free will often conflict with the notion of luck, particularly when individuals act in ways that they may not fully control. The conversation ventures into the implications of a lack of free will, including how one's choices may be influenced more by external factors than personal volition. This pivot ultimately challenges listeners to consider how relinquishing the idea of free will could reshape their understanding of ethical behavior.
Accountability vs. Responsibility
The podcast tackles the question of accountability versus responsibility in light of the discussions surrounding luck and free will. It emphasizes that, while moral judgments will still be valid, the attribution of responsibility might not hold in the same way that it traditionally does. This suggests a shift in focus toward accountability, where actions might still warrant evaluation and discussion, regardless of the underlying factors of luck. As such, listeners are encouraged to reconsider how societal reactions to actions should be framed in contexts that acknowledge both situational and personal influences.
Episode two of my luckpilling series, where I'm once again joined by Sarah Tulien, executive director of the Creator Accountability Network. We discuss chapter one of my dissertation, which covers the philosophy of luck, particularly why the (lack of) control account of luck is the best account and why it follows that everything is luck.
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Next Episode: Luckpilled Chapter Two: Psychology of Luck
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