Epidemics and pandemics represent collective threats to humanity’s health and well-being. Effective and equitable responses to epidemics and pandemics arguably require collective action. Collective action is also arguably needed to address some of the causes of epidemics and pandemics, such as climate change. In practice, responding to collective threats can be challenging due to conflicts that can arise between individual interests and collective interests. Even when collective action at a local, national or international level may make individuals, organisations or governments better off, they may fail to cooperate because their individual interests discourage cooperative action. This seminar, which represents the first in a series focused on epidemics and collective action, will examine the nature and role of individual and collective responsibility in relation to epidemics and begin to consider how ethics can help provide a framework for promoting collective action.
Speakers:
Dr Adrian Viens
Dr Caesar Atuire
Professor Sir Nicholas J. White
Professor Daniel Goldberg
Professor Vijay Kumar Yadavendu