Culpability

Distributed responsibility is a philosophical theory that challenges the common view that any single person or action is responsible for an outcome. The theory acknowledges that in systemic or complex issues, like climate change, too many variables and decisions are involved at the consumer, producer, and government levels to assign blame to one success/failure point. This principle is both descriptive and prescriptive: It describes how accountability for systemic issues is shared, but it also prescribes that no one person or entity should shoulder the burden of global issues (“Distributed Responsibility.” Sustainability Directory, 1 Apr. 2025).

Culpability illustrates arguments on both sides of this principle through its discussion of AI, which is increasingly integrated into human life. The self-driving minivan collision acts as a case study for assigning blame in situations involving both humans and AI—neither can be blamed as the sole culprit, but one must take legal responsibility so that the Drummonds can have justice. The text illustrates that neither Charlie nor the SensTrek minivan can entirely shoulder the blame for the crash. A complex string of decisions was made by Charlie and his family in the cabin of the van prior to the crash that produced the circumstances wherein a crash could occur.