How should involuntary risks compare to voluntary risks?

Involuntary risks should be smaller than voluntary risks because individuals typically have less control over involuntary risks. These risks, which are often associated with environmental factors, public safety, or health-related issues that individuals must face without consent or choice, generally provoke stronger ethical considerations. In contrast, voluntary risks are those individuals choose to take, often after weighing the potential benefits and consequences. This choice implies an acceptance of the risk and suggests a level of informed consent.

The rationale behind the idea that involuntary risks ought to be minimized stems from ethical principles that emphasize the importance of individual autonomy and the right to personal safety. People are expected to have a say in the risks they accept in their lives, and it is considered ethical to limit the risks imposed on them without their consent. Therefore, in situations where individuals do not have the opportunity to make informed decisions about risks, it is paramount to ensure these risks are kept to a minimum to protect their well-being and dignity.