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/lp/de-gruyter/kollektive-g-ter-und-individuelle-verantwortung-1A25tSZLZS
- Publisher
- de Gruyter
- Copyright
- Copyright © 1989 by the
- ISSN
- 0171-5860
- eISSN
- 2365-9858
- DOI
- 10.1515/auk-1989-0204
- Publisher site
- See Article on Publisher Site
Abstract
Abstract In acting within large groups the single actor typically suffers from the symptom of irrelevance of his contribution. A single contributory effect may be extremely small or, due to ‘threshold effects’, even non-existent. Given such conditions not only self-interested action, also purely altruistically motivated contribution seems to be rendered irrational. The article reasons that the famous ‘principles of generalization’ are of no help on this problem. However, a ‘principle of division’ could be used in showing, that in many situations of collective action altruistically motivated contribution is rationally sound.
Journal
Analyse & Kritik – de Gruyter
Published: Nov 1, 1989