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    Bernard Williams argues that utilitarianism's impartial d... — Carmelics
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    Challenges→You are morally obligated to save a drowning infant in a shallow pond when doing so requires minimal effort and inconvenience.

    Bernard Williams argues that utilitarianism's impartial demands alienate agents from their ground projects, which are constitutive of personal integrity and identity.

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    Reasons For

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    • 1.Personal identity is constituted by sustained commitments to particular projects, relationships, and values over time.
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    • 2.Utilitarianism requires agents to abandon or subordinate ground projects whenever impartial calculation demands greater overall utility.
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    • 3.This systematic alienation from one's defining commitments undermines the psychological and moral integrity necessary for meaningful agency.
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    Reasons Against

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    • 1.Utilitarianism permits agents to pursue ground projects as long as doing so maximizes overall utility—compatibility is possible.
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    • 2.Personal integrity need not require exemption from impartial moral constraints; it can include reasoned acceptance of those constraints.
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    • 3.Williams' argument assumes ground projects deserve special moral protection, but this requires independent justification beyond intuitive appeal.
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    Consequentialism1 linkedMoral Responsibility1 linked

    Related

    Personal identity is constituted by sustained commitments to particular projects...Personal integrity need not require exemption from impartial moral constraints; ...This systematic alienation from one's defining commitments undermines the psycho...Utilitarianism permits agents to pursue ground projects as long as doing so maxi...
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    Utilitarianism requires agents to abandon or subordinate ground projects wheneve...Williams' argument assumes ground projects deserve special moral protection, but...You are morally obligated to save a drowning infant in a shallow pond when doing...

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    claim
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    2 (1 for, 1 against)
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    1 edit