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Full Idea
Forming the intention to use nuclear retaliation if attacked may both be the best way to avoid the catastrophe of nuclear war and at the same time be morally corrupting.
Gist of Idea
Aggression in defence may be beneficial but morally corrupting
Source
Jonathan Glover (Introductions to Utilitarianism and its Critics [1990], Pt Five)
Book Ref
'Utilitarianism and Its Critics', ed/tr. Glover,Jonathan [Macmillan 1990], p.154
A Reaction
A famous moment in 2017 when Jeremy Corbyn refused to say he would be willing to use the weapons, if elected. It would be hard to sustain a determination to do it, and then reject it at the crucial moment.
| 193 | Some things are good even though they are not beneficial to men [Plato] |
| 26 | Wealth is not the good, because it is only a means [Aristotle] |
| 19752 | If we should not mistreat humans, it is mainly because of sentience, not rationality [Rousseau] |
| 20278 | 'Marginal utility' says something is more useful if it is in short supply [Singer] |
| 3786 | Aggression in defence may be beneficial but morally corrupting [Glover] |