The Means Principle

Chapter 7 develops and defends a novel conception of the means principle. The chapter argues that there is an absolute prohibition on the harmful use of another person’s body or other rightful property, unless the person who is harmed is duty bound to permit this use, or has otherwise waived their claims against such use. He argues that this principle does not focus on an agent’s intentions, but rather only on whether achieving the outcome that ostensibly justifies an agent’s act requires the use of another person’s body or rightful property. The chapter argues that this conception of the means principle is superior to competing principles in the literature, and it outlines some of the implications for the morality of defensive force.