Download This PaperThe Need to Attend to Probabilities (for Purposes of Self-Defense and Other Preemptive Actions)
6 Pages Posted: 1 Feb 2017
Date Written: 2016
Abstract
In this short essay I ask what must someone acting in defense of others believe and with what level of credence in order not to be culpable for so acting. I focus on defense of others to avoid the issue of excuse, as the defender of others is not acting out of fear for his own safety, a fear that might excuse the defensive acts of the victim of the feared attack. I focus on beliefs and levels of credence because no defender can know for certain the factors relevant to permissible defensive actions.
Keywords: preemtive action, culpability, justification, excuse, necessity, probability
JEL Classification: A00, A10, K10
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation
Alexander, Lawrence, The Need to Attend to Probabilities (for Purposes of Self-Defense and Other Preemptive Actions) (2016). San Diego Legal Studies Paper No. 17-256, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2909273 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2909273
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