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Climate change, harmless torturers and the inefficacy problem

Wohlin, Minna LU (2025) FPRK01 20252
Practical Philosophy
Abstract
The inefficacy problem refers to the paradox in collective harm problems where effects of individual actions appear too small to make a moral difference, albeit aggregated they cause great harm. This thesis will argue that the inefficacy problem derives its strength from the thought experiments commonly used to theorize, structure and understand the collective harm problem of climate change. By revising implicit premisses and restructuring the issue in new though experiments, it suggests a way in which individual actions that emit CO2 can make a moral difference. This offers new possible solutions to the inefficacy problem in line with narrow, consequentialist requirements.
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author
Wohlin, Minna LU
supervisor
organization
course
FPRK01 20252
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
keywords
inefficacy problem, climate change, collective harm problem, consequentialism, Shelly Kagan, Julia Nefsky, imperceptible harm, imperceptible differences, Derek Parfit, Sorites Paradox, Zach Barnett
language
English
id
9216453
date added to LUP
2026-02-03 13:48:05
date last changed
2026-02-06 12:09:08
@misc{9216453,
  abstract     = {{The inefficacy problem refers to the paradox in collective harm problems where effects of individual actions appear too small to make a moral difference, albeit aggregated they cause great harm. This thesis will argue that the inefficacy problem derives its strength from the thought experiments commonly used to theorize, structure and understand the collective harm problem of climate change. By revising implicit premisses and restructuring the issue in new though experiments, it suggests a way in which individual actions that emit CO2 can make a moral difference. This offers new possible solutions to the inefficacy problem in line with narrow, consequentialist requirements.}},
  author       = {{Wohlin, Minna}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Climate change, harmless torturers and the inefficacy problem}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}