The Price of Duty

When state officials wrongfully harm citizens, who should bear the costs of compensation—the officials themselves or the public at large? Clark develops a theory of limited official immunity, arguing that citizens sometimes have a moral duty to share in these costs. Grounded in a broader principle of compensatory morality, the account explains why those required to participate in collective projects must also share responsibility for their harms, while also clarifying the limits of immunity and the cases where officials should remain personally liable.