An older chemist says he can get George a job in a certain laboratory, which pursues research into chemical and biological warfare. But if George refuses the job, it will certainly go to a contemporary of George's who is not inhibited by any such scruples. It is designed to show that the consequences are definitely better for everybody, including George's family if he takes the job. Even though he is morally deeply opposed to chemical and biological weapons, there is another guy there who is probably going to make them more damaging and insidious.
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?
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