Bernard Williams: A Critique of Utilitarianism Phil 240, Introduction to Ethical Theory, W6L5 Benjamin Visscher Hole IV

Clicker Quiz Review/Discuss Williams Discuss Broader Issues Agenda Clicker Quiz Review/Discuss Williams Discuss Broader Issues

equal weight with other feelings. 1. Some feelings are irrational from the utilitarian point of view; Williams claims that in deciding what to do, utilitarians should give such feelings: equal weight with other feelings. some weight, but less weight than other feelings. no weight at all. extra weight, because they are very hard to get rid of. none of the above.

based on inaccurate calculation. mere squeamishness. 2. According to Williams, the utilitarian must regard Jim’s feelings of moral uncertainty as: justified. based on inaccurate calculation. mere squeamishness. indicating the deep wrongness of his action. none of the above.

3. According to Williams, people primarily pursue: happiness. projects. the general aim of maximizing happiness. pleasure. all of the above. none of the above.

Utilitarianism and Integrity All of us have projects and commitments with which we deeply identify. To ask someone to set these aside and act so as to maximize overall goodness “is to alienate him in a real sense from his actions and the source of his action in his own convictions. . . . It is, in the most literal sense, an attack on his integrity.” Alienation from moral feelings Alienation from actions (and projects, etc.) 6

Alienation from moral feelings A Utilitarian Counter-Argument Squeamishness “There is a powerful and recognizable appeal that can be made … that a refusal by Jim to do what he has been invited to do would be a kind of selfindulgent squeamishness.” The suggestion is that we should resist anti-utilitarianism sentiments. Alienation from moral feelings

Alienation from moral feelings Williams’ Reply: Alienation from Moral Feelings “The reason why the squeamishness appeal can be very unsettling … is … that we … cannot regard our moral feelings merely as objects of utilitarian value. Because our moral relation to the world is partly given by such feelings, and by a sense of what we can or cannot ‘live with’, to come to regard those feelings from a purely utilitarian point of view, that is, as happenings outside one’s moral self, is to lose a sense of one’s moral identity; to lose, in the most literal way, one’s integrity.” Alienation from moral feelings

Alienation from actions Problems for Utilitarian Agents A utilitarian agent must regard his own projects/commitments as just “one among others.” Projects of others can, to an objectionable extent, determine his decisions: Positively, if there are harmless projects within his causal field which he can assist. Negatively, if there are harmful projects within his causal field which he can thwart Alienation from actions

Alienation from actions Utilitarianism does not recognize the importance of a person's own projects and commitments in shaping his life and giving it meaning. It is absurd to ask a man to abandon his deepest commitments whenever the utility network points to another decision as "optimific.” This alienates him from his actions and his own convictions. Alienation from actions

Criticism of Williams Broader issues Discussion Criticism of Williams Broader issues

The Egoism Objection (to Williams) Rick’s Choice “In the film Casablanca the expatriate adventurer Rick (played by Humphrey Bogart) gives up the love of his life because of her importance to another man. Although she loves this other man less, she sustains him in his crucial work as a leader of the anti-fascist resistance. “In explaining his decision, Rick says that in the world they face, it’s easy to see that their private concerns do not amount “to a hill of beans” and that their love must yield to larger and weightier concerns.” (Shaw 1999, 277) The Egoism Objection (to Williams) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEWaqUVac3M&feature=related

The Egoism Objection (to Williams) Rick’s Choice “No matter how central our projects are to us, circumstances can compel us to subordinate them to the greater good. … Williams’ writings sometimes seem to imply that Rick made the wrong choice by putting aside what was of greatest importance to him in order to advance the greater well-being of others. But this position, which smacks of egoism, is too extreme to be credible.” (Shaw 1999, 277) The Egoism Objection (to Williams) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEWaqUVac3M&feature=related

“These sorts of considerations do not in themselves give solutions to practical dilemmas such as those provided by our examples; but I hope they help to provide other ways of thinking about them … In fact, it is not hard to see that in George’s case, viewed from this perspective, the utilitarian solution would be wrong … Jim’s case is different, and harder. But if (as I suppose) the utilitarian is probably right in this case, that is not to be found out just by asking the utilitarian’s questions.” A Response?

The Williams position “smacks of egoism” Strongly Agree Agree Somewhat Agree Neutral Somewhat Disagree Disagree Strongly Disagree

Strongly Agree Agree Somewhat Agree Neutral Somewhat Disagree Disagree There is good reason to be critical of the impartiality of Kantian and utilitarian approaches to ethical theory Strongly Agree Agree Somewhat Agree Neutral Somewhat Disagree Disagree Strongly Disagree

Ethical principles should make exceptions. Strongly Agree Agree Somewhat Agree Neutral Somewhat Disagree Disagree Strongly Disagree

As Anscombe argues, we should abandon modern moral philosophy. Strongly Agree Agree Somewhat Agree Neutral Somewhat Disagree Disagree Strongly Disagree

We should develop a virtue-oriented approach to ethical theory. Strongly Agree Agree Somewhat Agree Neutral Somewhat Disagree Disagree Strongly Disagree