Moral Luck
The paradox that people are held morally responsible for outcomes significantly shaped by factors beyond their control — even though most ethical frameworks assume moral judgment should depend only on what a person freely chose.
Origin
British philosopher Bernard Williams coined the term in 1976 in a paper for the Proceedings of the Aristotelian Society, expecting it to sound like an oxymoron. Thomas Nagel independently developed the concept in a companion essay in the same volume, later reprinted in his 1979 book Mortal Questions. Both challenged Kant's principle that moral worth should be immune from luck, arguing that actual moral practice contradicts this ideal.
Everyday Use
Two drivers text while driving. One gets home safely; the other hits a pedestrian. Both made the same reckless choice, but only one faces criminal charges and moral condemnation. That's moral luck — the outcome was determined by factors beyond either driver's control, yet we judge them very differently.