Negligence, Recklessness and Strict Liability

This article focusses on arguments concerning the blameworthiness, or culpability, of negligence. Roughly speaking, a negligent action is a harmful action that is done inadvertently. The article sets out the puzzle of negligence and contrasts it with recklessness and strict liability. Unlike recklessness, negligence does not involve an awareness of the risk taken. On the other hand, negligence seems more plausible as a genuine ground of culpability than strict liability. The article surveys the various arguments that have been given for the culpability of negligence, and suggests that we will not find grounds for blameworthiness in pure negligence. However, there may nonetheless be ways to vindicate legal and informal practices of negligence responsibility.