Moral Luck

Moral luck in simple terms determines whether or not an individual should be praised or blamed due to external conditions outside of one’s control.

From past experiences we see society praise people who are born and raised within a certain circumstances and environment.  A child of an educated family/kinship is expected to receive better opportunities than children in the reverse situation. However the praise for the individual succeeding from less fortunate situation is greater than the one for the individual whom was expected.

I was born in Peru, my parents fled the homeland in pursue of better opportunities for their children circa late 90’s. At the time I was five and Peru was going through a socio-political conflict, the spread of communism via terrorism. Hence, my sister and I were left behind with our eldest relatives for eight years. We lived in a relatively poor neighborhood.  I remember many kids in this neighborhood couldn’t afford an education or supplies for school, and many had to go and sell candy on the streets and public buses. I remember the smallest and simplest items would impress me. After school, the kids would come out and play soccer out on the streets. Ignorance is bliss. 6 years later, the person that I am today is entirely different. When I graduate with an engineering degree, I know people will praise me for these accomplishments more than a person who was brought up in better conditions.

I firmly believe moral luck is a problem however. Is it ethical? No, because the other individual should be praised as much for accomplishing the same goal. Expecting less of someone undermines that person’s autonomy, no matter the conditions they went through. A person’s accomplishment is the result of the time and effort that person invests into something. Sure, it might be rougher on others but that does not make it impossible.