I of course agree that adopting a general policy of killing people’s parents without reference to their attributes is a bad idea. It would most likely have bad consequences, after all. (Also, it violates rules against killing, and it’s something virtuous people don’t do.)
I agree that for a consequentialist, the only good reason to judge past actions is to help make future decisions.
I disagree that the question “was it a good thing that his parents were killed?” cashes out to “should we adopt a general policy of killing people’s parents?” I would say, rather, that it cashes out to “should we adopt a general policy of killing people who are similar to Bruce Wayne’s parents at the moment of their death?” (“People’s parents” is one such set, but not the only one, and I see no reason to privilege it.)
And I would say the consequentialist’s answer is “yes, for some kinds of similarity; no, for others.” (Which kinds of similarity? Well, we may not know yet. That requires further study.)
“should we adopt a general policy of killing people who are similar to Bruce Wayne’s parents at the moment of their death?”
My answer’s still no because of my first comment. The death of his parents is only one factor involved in Bruce Wayne’s becoming Batman. In Batman Begins, for example, another important factor is his training with the League of Shadows. The latter is not a predictable consequence of the former.
OK, that’s clear; thanks.
I of course agree that adopting a general policy of killing people’s parents without reference to their attributes is a bad idea. It would most likely have bad consequences, after all. (Also, it violates rules against killing, and it’s something virtuous people don’t do.)
I agree that for a consequentialist, the only good reason to judge past actions is to help make future decisions.
I disagree that the question “was it a good thing that his parents were killed?” cashes out to “should we adopt a general policy of killing people’s parents?” I would say, rather, that it cashes out to “should we adopt a general policy of killing people who are similar to Bruce Wayne’s parents at the moment of their death?” (“People’s parents” is one such set, but not the only one, and I see no reason to privilege it.)
And I would say the consequentialist’s answer is “yes, for some kinds of similarity; no, for others.” (Which kinds of similarity? Well, we may not know yet. That requires further study.)
My answer’s still no because of my first comment. The death of his parents is only one factor involved in Bruce Wayne’s becoming Batman. In Batman Begins, for example, another important factor is his training with the League of Shadows. The latter is not a predictable consequence of the former.
Ah, I see your point. Sure, that’s true.