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The Disambiguation Cost of Accountability
SEEKING INPUT
This text serves as a prospectus for a philosophical essay by Bry Willis, which examines the linguistic mechanics behind the concept of accountability. The author argues that accountability is a "quasi-invariant" term, meaning it is presented as a fixed, stable concept while its actual meaning remains ambiguous and fluid. By maintaining this semantic blurring between simple explanation and material consequence, institutions can use the term to achieve procedural closure without necessarily delivering genuine redress. Willis introduces the idea of "disambiguation cost" to explain…
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