Keynote Speaker
Christina Nick is an Associate Professor of Applied Ethics working in the School of Philosophy, Religion and History of Science at the University of Leeds. Her research interests lie in moral and political philosophy with a particular focus on the problem of dirty hands, moral responsibility, and reparations for historical injustices. She is currently co-writing the first textbook on the problem of dirty hands.
Can Dirty-Handed Politicians Owe Reparations?
The problem of dirty hands is concerned with situations in which an agent has to choose between two incompatible moral demands so that they will inevitably have to violate something of important moral value. While dirty hands cases can arise in all areas of life, it has been argued that they are most pressing in the realm of politics. To illustrate the issue at hand, the paper will introduce the real-life case study of the cover up of the Claudy Bombing in Northern Ireland. With the help of this example, the aim of the paper is to suggest that we need to pay more attention to what is owed to the victims of dirty hands. In particular, I will defend the claim that politicians owe reparations to those that have been negatively affected by their dirty-handed decisions.
Content Note
This paper deals with the real-life implications of situations in which public officials commit grave moral wrongs. To fully grasp the urgency of thinking more about the victims of dirty hands, the paper will include a discussion – and explicit description – of the Claudy Bombing during the Northern Ireland Conflict. This part of the paper could be potentially upsetting or re-traumatising for some attendees. If you know that it will be unsettling for you to encounter this content, please feel free to take a break, leave the room, and re-join us at a point at which you feel comfortable doing so.