Episode 135: Utilitarianism and Moral Identity

David and Tamler take a break from complaining about psychological studies that measure utilitarianism to complain about the moral theory itself. We talk about one of the most famous critiques of utilitarian theories from Bernard Williams. Does utilitarianism annihilate our integrity--our unity--as people? Would trying to maximize well-being fracture our identities, and swallow up our projects, motivations, and moral convictions--the same convictions that make utilitarianism seem appealing in the first place? Is it ultimately self-defeating as a moral theory?

Plus, we talk about the adventures of Tamler's based step-mom Christina Hoff Sommers' at Lewis and Clark law school. Will David stay woke?

Support Very Bad Wizards

Links:

• Protesters try to shut down Christina Hoff Sommers at Lewis & Clark Law School - YouTube
• Statement on the Christina Hoff Sommers Event at the Law School - Newsroom - Lewis & Clark
• We're All Fascists Now - The New York Times
• "The Usual Suspects" final scene *spoilers*
• Bernard Williams - Wikipedia
• Williams, B. "Consequentialism and Integrity" [published originally in "Utilitarianism: For and Against", ed. Smart and Williams (Cambridge University Press, 1973), pp. 82-118.]
• Smart, J. J. C., & Williams, B. (1973). Utilitarianism: For and against. Cambridge University Press. [Amazon.com affiliate link] — Worth reading the whole book!