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Full Idea
I want to emphasise the basic importance of the ordinary idea of a self or person which undergoes changes of character, as opposed to dissolving a changing person into a series of 'selves'.
Gist of Idea
It is important that a person can change their character, and not just be successive 'selves'
Source
Bernard Williams (Persons, Character and Morality [1976], II)
Book Ref
Williams,Bernard: 'Moral Luck: Papers 1973-1980' [CUP 1981], p.5
A Reaction
[compressed] He mentions Derek Parfit for the rival view. Williams has the Aristotelian view, that a person has an essential nature, which endures through change, and explains that change. But that needs some non-essential character traits.
| 23278 | For utilitarians states of affairs are what have value, not matter who produced them [Williams,B] |
| 23279 | It is important that a person can change their character, and not just be successive 'selves' [Williams,B] |
| 23280 | Kantians have an poor account of individuals, and insist on impartiality, because they ignore character [Williams,B] |