Varieties of Risk Pluralism

Citation

Ebert PA & Pedersen NJLL (2026) Varieties of Risk Pluralism. Cruft R (Other) Mind, Art. No.: fzag034. https://doi.org/10.1093/mind/fzag034

Abstract
The dominant approach in the literature on risk is to adopt a monist stance by taking the probabilistic notion of risk to be the only proper notion of risk. However, there is a growing philosophical literature that uses non-probabilistic measures, such as modal closeness or normalcy, to ground and defend alternative non-probabilistic notions of risk. In this paper, we outline the current state of the debate with regard to non-probabilistic notions of risk. Drawing on pluralist ideas in ethics, epistemology, and the philosophies of truth and logic, we then present and discuss different forms pluralism about risk could take, and identify distinctive challenges for each of them using a number of test cases. Ultimately, we argue that some versions of risk pluralism are more problematic than others, and that the most feasible approach is a more modest form of risk pluralism.

Journal
Mind

• Fzag034