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Full Idea
It is a self-evident principle that the good of one individual is of no more importance, from the point of view of the Universe, than the good of any other, ..and as a rational being I am bound to aim at good generally, not merely at a particular part.
Gist of Idea
It is self-evident (from the point of view of the Universe) that no individual has more importance than another
Source
Henry Sidgwick (The Methods of Ethics (7th edn) [1874], III.XIII.3)
Book Ref
Sidgwick,Henry: 'The Methods of Ethics (7th edn)' [Hackett 1981], p.382
A Reaction
Showing that even a very empirical theory like utilitarianism has an a priori basis. Of course, the principle is false. What about animals, the senile, criminals, androids? What bestows 'importance'?
| 23059 | Self-interest is not rational, if the self is just a succession of memories and behaviour [Sidgwick, by Gray] |
| 20588 | Sidwick argues for utilitarian institutions, rather than actions [Sidgwick, by Tuckness/Wolf] |
| 4129 | It is self-evident (from the point of view of the Universe) that no individual has more importance than another [Sidgwick] |
| 23111 | If we say that freedom depends on rationality, the irrational actions are not free [Sidgwick] |