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Full Idea
The Kantians' omission of character is a condition of their ultimate insistence on the demands of impartial morality, just as it is a reason to find inadequate their account of the individual.
Gist of Idea
Kantians have an poor account of individuals, and insist on impartiality, because they ignore character
Source
Bernard Williams (Persons, Character and Morality [1976], II)
Book Ref
Williams,Bernard: 'Moral Luck: Papers 1973-1980' [CUP 1981], p.14
A Reaction
This is also why the Kantian account of virtue is inadequate, in comparison with the Aristotelian view.
Related Idea
Idea 21414 The supreme principle of virtue is to find universal laws for ends [Kant]
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] |