Single Idea 22411

[catalogued under 22. Metaethics / C. The Good / 1. Goodness / g. Consequentialism]

Full Idea

Making the best of a bad job is a consequentialist maxim, and it will have something to say even pn the difference between massacring seven million and massacring seven million and one.

Gist of Idea

For a consequentialist massacring 7 million must be better than massacring 7 million and one

Source

Bernard Williams (A Critique of Utilitarianism [1973], 2)

Book Reference

Smart,J./Williams,B.: 'Utilitarianism For and Against' [CUP 1978], p.93


A Reaction

If every life counts, the consequentialists have got something right here. Not caring exactly how many were massacred is a sort of callousness (even when the number can't be established).