I exist. I am conscious of my own identity. I was born and I shall die. I have arms and legs. I occupy a particular point in space. No other solid object can occupy the same point simultaneously.
Is it in that sense, that you are pretty sure that utilitarians exist?
I’m pretty sure that there are people who sincerely claim to be utilitarians in the sense that they try to use that ethical doctrine to guide their actions. Is this really controversial?
To anyone besides tim_tyler, that is?
ETA: I recognize that I am confused. Can anyone point out what I am missing here?
When I said I had never met a utilitarian, I meant, literally, that I have never even met someone who claimed to be a utilitarian. When I said that I am sure that there are sincere utilitarians who try their best to use the doctrine to guide their actions, I meant exactly that.
As far as I am concerned, someone who tries to be a utilitarian really is a utilitarian.
I exist. I am conscious of my own identity. I was born and I shall die. I have arms and legs. I occupy a particular point in space. No other solid object can occupy the same point simultaneously.
Is it in that sense, that you are pretty sure that utilitarians exist?
I’m pretty sure that there are people who sincerely claim to be utilitarians in the sense that they try to use that ethical doctrine to guide their actions. Is this really controversial? To anyone besides tim_tyler, that is?
ETA: I recognize that I am confused. Can anyone point out what I am missing here?
I thought you might be suggesting that no-one is actually a utilitarian, although they might believe they are.
When I said I had never met a utilitarian, I meant, literally, that I have never even met someone who claimed to be a utilitarian. When I said that I am sure that there are sincere utilitarians who try their best to use the doctrine to guide their actions, I meant exactly that.
As far as I am concerned, someone who tries to be a utilitarian really is a utilitarian.
(With overwhelmingly high probability.)