Bad Things: The Nature and Normative Role of Harm

Bad Things by Neil Feit explores the metaphysics of harm, defending and extending the counterfactual comparative account of harm. He argues for the inclusion of plural harm, where two or more events together harm an individual, and challenges the view that there are strong reasons against harming per se.

Format: Hardback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 14 July 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

Bad Things is a thought-provoking book that delves into various philosophical questions about the nature and moral relevance of harm. The central question it addresses is: under what conditions does an event (or do some events) harm a given individual?

Neil Feit, the author, focuses primarily on the metaphysics of harm, and he offers both defenses and extensions of the counterfactual comparative account of harm. On this account, in its most basic form, an act or event harms an individual if she would have been better off if it had not occurred. While the counterfactual comparative account is widely accepted, it is also subject to criticism. Feit addresses these objections in detail and provides thorough responses. He argues that an adequate theory of harm should encompass the counterfactual comparative account but also allow for a certain kind of plural harm, where two or more events together harm an individual, even though neither one by itself is harmful. These harmful events, collectively referred to as bad things, are bad even if no single event is itself considered bad. Feit sets out and defends a detailed account of plural harm, addressing issues related to the magnitude and duration of the harm suffered by the victim.

While the primary focus of the book is on the metaphysics of harm, it also addresses issues concerning its normative or moral relevance. Feit questions the widely held view that there are strong reasons, which can only be overridden in unusual circumstances, against harming per se. He explores different perspectives and arguments to challenge this view and shed light on the complex nature of harm and its moral implications.

Overall, Bad Things is a comprehensive and insightful exploration of philosophical questions related to harm. It provides a deep understanding of the metaphysical aspects of harm and challenges traditional views on its moral relevance. Through his detailed analysis and thoughtful arguments, Feit offers valuable insights into the complex nature of harm and its implications for our understanding of ethics and morality.

Dimension: 210 x 140 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780197660447