more from Bernard Williams

Single Idea 4124

[catalogued under 23. Ethics / E. Utilitarianism / 3. Motivation for Altruism]

Full Idea

Utilitarian benevolence involves no particular attachments, and it is immune to the inverse square law.

Clarification

It doesn't fade quickly over a distance, the way gravity does

Gist of Idea

Utilitarian benevolence involves no particular attachments, and is immune to the inverse square law

Source

Bernard Williams (Ethics and the Limits of Philosophy [1985], Ch. 5)

Book Reference

Williams,Bernard: 'Ethics and the Limits of Philosophy' [Fontana 1985], p.81


A Reaction

Nicely put. The point is that the theory is inhuman, but Mill says it tells us what we should do, not what we actually tend to do.