Ethical Theory and Moral Practice 9 (2):149 - 166 (2006)
Authors |
|
Abstract |
In his paper, “Should the Numbers Count?" John Taurek imagines that we are in a position such that we can either save a group of five people, or we can save one individual, David. We cannot save David and the five. This is because they each require a life-saving drug. However, David needs all of the drug if he is to survive, while the other five need only a fifth each.Typically, people have argued as if there was a choice to be made: either numbers matter, in which case we should save the greater number, or numbers don't matter, but rather there is moral value in giving each person an equal chance of survival, and therefore we should toss a coin. My claim is that we do not have to make a choice in this way. Rather, numbers do matter, but it doesn't follow that we should always save the greater number. And likewise, there is moral value in giving each person an equal chance of survival, but it doesn't follow that we should always toss a coin.
|
Keywords | aggregation numbers probabilities saving lives Taurek weighing goods |
Categories | (categorize this paper) |
DOI | 10.1007/s10677-005-9004-4 |
Options |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Download options
References found in this work BETA
Comparing Harms: Headaches and Human Lives.Alastair Norcross - 1997 - Philosophy and Public Affairs 26 (2):135-167.
Speed Limits, Human Lives, and Convenience: A Reply to Ridge.Alastair Norcross - 1998 - Philosophy and Public Affairs 27 (1):59-64.
View all 6 references / Add more references
Citations of this work BETA
A Defence of Weighted Lotteries in Life Saving Cases.Ben Saunders - 2009 - Ethical Theory and Moral Practice 12 (3):279-290.
Numbers Scepticism, Equal Chances and Pluralism: Taurek Revisited.Gerald Lang & Rob Lawlor - 2016 - Politics, Philosophy and Economics 15 (3):298-315.
Don’T Count on Taurek: Vindicating the Case for the Numbers Counting.Yishai Cohen - 2014 - Res Publica 20 (3):245-261.
In Defense of Batman: Reply to Bradley.Gerald Lang & Rob Lawlor - 2013 - Journal of Ethics and Social Philosophy (3):1-7.
View all 17 citations / Add more citations
Similar books and articles
Should the Probabilities Count?Katharina Berndt Rasmussen - 2012 - Philosophical Studies 159 (2):205-218.
The Distribution of Numbers and the Comprehensiveness of Reasons.Veronique Munoz-Darde - 2005 - Proceedings of the Aristotelian Society 105 (2):207–233.
Why the Numbers Should Sometimes Count.John T. Sanders - 1988 - Philosophy and Public Affairs 17 (1):3-14.
The Mixed Solution to the Number Problem.Martin Peterson - 2009 - Journal of Moral Philosophy 6 (2):166-177.
What Is Wrong With Kamm's and Scanlon's Arguments Against Taurek.Tyler Doggett - 2009 - Journal of Ethics and Social Philosophy 3 (3):1-16.
Analytics
Added to PP index
2009-01-28
Total views
285 ( #36,807 of 2,498,786 )
Recent downloads (6 months)
3 ( #210,517 of 2,498,786 )
2009-01-28
Total views
285 ( #36,807 of 2,498,786 )
Recent downloads (6 months)
3 ( #210,517 of 2,498,786 )
How can I increase my downloads?
Downloads