Some Versions of the Number Problem Have No Solution

This article addresses Taruek’s much discussed Number Problem from a non-consequentialist point of view. I argue that some versions of the Number Problem have no solution, meaning that no alternative is at least as choice-worthy as the others, and that the best way to behave in light of such moral i...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Peterson, Martin (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Springer Science + Business Media B. V 2010
In: Ethical theory and moral practice
Year: 2010, Volume: 13, Issue: 4, Pages: 439-451
Further subjects:B moral indeterminacy
B Combs
B Fair play
B Number Problem
B Nonconsequentialism
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Summary:This article addresses Taruek’s much discussed Number Problem from a non-consequentialist point of view. I argue that some versions of the Number Problem have no solution, meaning that no alternative is at least as choice-worthy as the others, and that the best way to behave in light of such moral indeterminacy is to let chance make the decision. I contrast my proposal with F M Kamm’s nonconsequentialist argument for saving the greatest number, the Argument for Best Outcomes, which I argue does not follow from the premises it is based on.
ISSN:1572-8447
Contains:Enthalten in: Ethical theory and moral practice
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1007/s10677-009-9213-3