THE
PUSHPIN PUNDIT
The Meaningless “Separateness of Persons” Chestnut
(posted April 15, 2006)
“Obviously utilitarians know perfectly well that persons are separate. What
they deny is that it follows from this separateness that one ought not to trade
benefits to one person against benefits to another.” Peter Singer, "Response to
Martha Nussbaum", 2002.
I have
written an entire article on the vague and ultimately meaningless criticism
that utilitarianism fails to respect the distinctness of persons. I sort of wish I had saved myself the
trouble, as the above quote by Peter Singer probably says all that needs to be
said. Nevertheless, anyone who wants to
check out my article can find it at Polity 35, no. 4 (July, 2003):
479-90. (and I
would be happy to email an electronic copy to anyone with an email account
ending in .edu)
Permanent link to this post: www.pushpinpundit.com/v1n3041506.htm