Should We Sacrifice the Utilitarians First?. (5th March 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Smilansky, Saul
• Is Part Of: Philosophical quarterly. Volume 70:Number 281(2020:Oct.)
• Page Start: 850
• Page End: 867
• Publication Date: 2020-03-05
• Subjects: designer ethics -- ethical theory -- universality -- integrity -- moral complaint -- utilitarianism; Philosophy -- Periodicals; 105
• DOI: 10.1093/pq/pqaa003
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0031-8094

Abstract

Abstract: It is commonly thought that morality applies universally to all human beings as moral targets, and our general moral obligations to people will not, as a rule, be affected by their views. I propose and explore a radical, alternative normative moral theory, 'Designer Ethics', according to which our views are pro tanto crucial determinants of how, morally, we ought to be treated. For example, since utilitarians are more sympathetic to the idea that human beings may be sacrificed for the greater good, perhaps it is permissible (or, even under certain conditions, obligatory) to give them 'priority' as potential victims. This odd idea has manifold drawbacks but I claim that it also has substantial advantages, that it has some affinities to more commonly accepted moral positions, and that it should be given a significant role in our ethical thinking.