Is Purely Structural Wrong an Illusion?

David Estlund (Brown University)

The Collective Ethics Seminar: Online Presentation – 19 May 2025 – 15.15 – 16.45 CET / 09.15 – 10.45 EST.

David Estlund (Brown University) – Is Purely Structural Wrong an Illusion?

On Monday 19 May 2025, David Estlund will give an online presentation at the Collective Ethics Seminar entitled “Is Purely Structural Wrong an Illusion?”.

Abstract:An influential understanding of "structural injustice" posits wrongs inherent in social structures themselves, independent of any agent's wrongdoing. While certain hierarchies or inequalities seem wrong even without culprits there remains something puzzling about wrong that no one commits. A fair question admittedly arises: "If these structures aren't wrong, why do they seem to be?" Without an answer, this intuition might support the existence of a purely structural kind of wrong. I propose an answer, however, through an argument from illusion: ostensible structural wrongs closely resemble consequences of agentive wrongdoing, creating an impression of agentive wrong even where none exists—like feeling danger on a known-safe ledge. In a coincidence (also needing to be explained, as I will try to do) these examples typically display features of wrongful agentive partiality, and its social consequences, inviting the "cui bono?"(“who benefits?”) question as if seeking culprits. Therefore, the impression alone provides no basis for purely structural wrong, leaving us to question whether any sufficient basis exists to overcome the concept's inherent obscurity

The online seminar is open for all to attend. The session starts at 15.15 CET / 09.15 EST. You can join the session via the following link: https://univienna.zoom.us/j/62736288881?pwd=SndEdTNoNlZtSzJqcmpabm5NaWIyUT09

For more information about the seminar, please see https://social.univie.ac.at/events/collective-ethics-seminar/.

We hope to see you at the seminar!

Kind regards,

Gunnar Björnsson (Stockholm University), Olle Blomberg (University of Gothenburg), and Niels de Haan (University of Vienna)