In Utilitarianism For and Against by Bernard Williams,...

In Utilitarianism For and Against by Bernard Williams, Williams has an argument that is based on the value of integrity. Integrity is defined as the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles or moral uprightness. In Williams argument he believes in certain circumstances utilitarianism requires agents to abandon their personal projects and commitments. This lead Williams to claim that utilitarianism is an attack on an agent’s integrity. In my essay I will explain Williams’s argument on utilitarianism and how he is lead to believe it is an attack on an agent’s integrity. I will also explain why he thinks it can force us to abandon our personal projects. Within my essay I will also explain the theory of right conduct†¦show more content†¦Thus, utilitarian’s focus on the consequences of an act rather than on its intrinsic nature or the motives of the agent. Utilitarianism as I defined it seems to look over whether or not a consequen ce is given when a person acts on something or doesn’t act on something. In Williams argument he believes in order for utilitarianism and consequentialism to be consistent a person or agent must be blamed for consequences of not doing something or an inaction. This is known as negative responsibility. The responsibility for doing something is called positive responsibility. Williams continues to argue that negative responsibility is no more or less justifying than positive responsibility. Williams states â€Å" that if I’m ever responsible for anything, then I must be just as much responsible for things that I allow or fail to prevent, as I am for things that I myself, in the more everyday restricted, bring about† pg 95. With the talk of negative responsibility in front of us I will reference an example give by Williams in his text. 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