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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.
| 3784 | Duty prohibits some acts, whatever their consequences [Glover] |
| 3785 | You can't separate acts from the people performing them [Glover] |
| 3786 | Aggression in defence may be beneficial but morally corrupting [Glover] |
| 3783 | How can utilitarianism decide the ideal population size? [Glover] |
| 3787 | Rule-utilitarianism is either act-utilitarianism, or not really utilitarian [Glover] |
| 3782 | Satisfaction of desires is not at all the same as achieving happiness [Glover, by PG] |