Full Idea
The emphasis on the necessary comparability of situations is a peculiar feature of consequentialism in general.
Gist of Idea
Consequentialism assumes that situations can be compared
Source
Bernard Williams (A Critique of Utilitarianism [1973], 2)
Book Reference
Smart,J./Williams,B.: 'Utilitarianism For and Against' [CUP 1978], p.88
A Reaction
A nice point. Utilitarians might achieve comparison by totting up the happiness in each situation, but once you include the consequences of the consequences the problems are obvious. Was 1789 a good thing? Too early to say.