Non-Identity Problem

Question 1

What are non-identity cases?

Answer 1

cases in which an individual appears to be wronged by an action which is the condition of their worthwhile existence

Question 2

Define non-identity problem.

Answer 2

What is the moral objection to a choice that causes someone to be badly off, if that person

(a) has a life worth living and
(b) would not have existed had the choice not been made

Question 3

4 inconsistent claims: Mary + Matthew

Answer 3

1. Mary wronged her child, Matthew
2. Mary wronged Matthew by harming him
3. The only way Mary could have harmed Matthew is by making him worse off than he otherwise would have been
4. Mary did not make Matthew worse off than he otherwise would have been

Question 4

What are the 4 possible solutions to the non-identity problem?

Answer 4

1. It’s not wrong after all - David Boonin
2. Elizabeth Harman on Harm
3. Wronging without harming - Kumar
4. “Her child” - De Dicto/ De Re - Hare

Question 5

David Boonin argument

Answer 5

It’s not wrong - Reject 1

• lower well being doesn’t equate to having been made worse off

Question 6

Harman’s argument

Answer 6

Harm - Deny 3

REJECT: counterfactual account of harm - comparative

ACCEPT: state based account of harm - not comparative
–>causes pain, early death or bodily deformity
eg, rape, torture

Question 7

Parfit’s Objection to Harman

Answer 7

Tammy and Patty

On Harman’d account we must say Patty and Tammy equally harmed their children

Harman: both harm their children, Patty has more justification

Question 8

Kumar’s Argument

Answer 8

wronging without harming - Reject 2

• someone can wrong without harming eg, drunk driver
• roles

Question 9

Hare’s Argument

Answer 9

De dicto - “her child” - 4 is false
De re - Matthew - 4 is false

adopt the de dicto approach and reject 4