Legal Doctrines on Harming vs. Not-Helping

FAIN: FT-10782-70

Daniel D. Lyons
Colorado State University (Fort Collins, CO 80521-2807)

Study of the ethics of "not-helping" vs. "punishing," in terms of economics and law. ABSTRACT: Fellow to study question: "When does not-helping constitute harming?" in terms of both economics and law. When does withholding a reward (a raise, a parole) become a punishment and give the person who controls the reward arbitrary power over the other? Outgrowth of Symposium on Justice and Responsibility in Law and the Economy, funded under NEH grant H69-0-119 with fellow as PI.