Utilitarianism and its Critics: Williams and Nozick Flashcards
Utilitarianism involves the notion of ___ responsibility.
Negative.
Negative Responsibility
That is if I am ever responsible for anything, then I must be just as responsible for things that I allow or fail to prevent, as I am for things that I myself, in the everyday more restricted sense, bring about.
According to utilitarianism, all causal connections are on the same level. Give an example.
There is no difference between drowning a child or preventing a child from drowning.
Utilitarian/Consequentialist Theory
Looks at the consequences of actions to determine whether they are right or wrong.
- Agent X doing an act Y because X freely wanted to do Y.
- Agent Z forcing X to do Y, since X didn’t want to do Y.
- Agent X accidentally doing Y.
Is there a difference according to utilitarian theory?
No.
In utilitarianism, ___ is the same as ___.
Allowing, doing.
Williams “Extreme of Impartiality”
Abstracts from the identity of the agent.
What does Williams find problematic with the utilitarian perspective in the case of Jim and the villagers?
- Utilitarian would say that Jim ought to have chosen act X.
- Williams says that there has to be a difference between the acts that I do and the acts that someone else does.
- In the villager case, Jim didn’t shoot the villagers. It’s hard to see how Jim is really responsible for the deaths.
How does Williams respond to the utilitarian perspective?
- We are not all utilitarians. Only if Jim were a utilitarianism could he be called selfish.
- Utilitarians seem to want to distance us from our moral feelings. Williams says it is of the utmost importance to give weight to moral feelings.
- Utilitarians say that we should give no weight to out moral feelings at all. Williams thinks it is absurd.
How does Williams as integrity plays a part?
- Jim not shooting and Pedro shooting everyone is different.
- To say that Jim is the cause of the deaths of the villagers is to leave Pedro out of the story altogether.
How does Williams argue that Jim was not a cause?
Pedro is going to do it regardless.
Williams ultimately argues that ___, or living your life in such a way that you act in accord with your commitments of moral feelings, is too valuable to give up.
Integrity.
Who says everyone has projects?
Williams.
What are some things we can’t get in the experience machine?
- Genuine realtionships.
- Ongoing contact with certain aspects of reality.
- Certain kinds of genuine knowledge.
What things might we get in the machine that still aren’t just experiences?
- Activities.
- Achievements.
- Personal development.
