Single Idea 4120

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

Full Idea

We do not merely want the world to contain certain states of affairs (it is a deep error of consequentialism to believe that this is all we want). Among the things we basically want is to act in certain ways.

Clarification

'Consequentialism' says morality only aims at consequences

Gist of Idea

It is an error of consequentialism to think we just aim at certain states of affairs; we also want to act

Source

Bernard Williams (Ethics and the Limits of Philosophy [1985], Ch. 4)

Book Reference

Williams,Bernard: 'Ethics and the Limits of Philosophy' [Fontana 1985], p.56


A Reaction

A key objection. Does it matter whether Hiroshima is destroyed by earthquake or bombing?