Williams considers and rejects various arguments for and against the existence of egoistic motives and the rationality of someone motivated by selfinterest. William jaworski 2005 proceedings of the american catholic philosophical association 79. Richard norman, times higher education supplement this is a superior book, glittering with intelligence and style. Williams adds as a side note, this might indicate that they thought that changing bodies was indeed a good description of the outcome 163. In morality bernard williams confronts the problems of writing moral philosophy, and offers a stimulating alternative to more systematic accounts which seem nevertheless to have left all the important issues. Ethics and the limits of philosophy bernard williamss book is better read not as an introduction to ethics, but as an attempt to take stock of the present state of the subject. Williams explains, analyses and distinguishes a number of key positions, from the purely amoral to notions of subjective or relative morality, testing their. Bernard williams writes, when i first introduced the expression moral luck, i expected to suggest an oxymoron williams 1993, 251. This is a volume of philosophical studies, centred on problems of personal identity and extending to related topics in the philosophy of mind and moral philosophy. Is it possible that you could exchange bodies with someone. The book is a successor to problems of the self, but whereas that volume dealt mainly with questions of personal identity, moral luck centres on questions of moral philosophy and the theory of rational action. But now there is a further limitation which has to be overcome if the feat is. One of the principal aims of bernard williamss work in moral philosophy1 is to provide a critique of ethical experience.
You are to understand possible not as practical or as possible, but only as something that is coherent or possible in thought. This is a volume of philosophical studies, centred on problems of personal identity and extending to related topics in the philosophy of mind. Professor sir bernard williams was one of the greatest twentiethcentury british philosophers, renowned especially for his work in moral philosophy. Response to bernard williams the self and the future, in the essay, the self and the future, bernard williams presents two instances of a thought experiment that, when followed, lead the reader to intuit two distinct conclusions on the preservation of personal identity, in spite of the methodological similarity of the two cases. Bernard williams, the makropolous case, in problems of the self. The self and the future bernard williams the philosophical. General interest problems of the self by bernard williams.
Bernard williams problems of the self free ebook download as pdf file. Reflections on the tedium of immortality, bernard williams argues against the possibility that we could always, and unendingly be in the business of satisfying significant and fulfilling desires. This welcome volume contains fifteen papers by bernard williams, an especially stimulating and insightful philosopher. This essay started life as a lecture in a series on the immortality of the soul or kindred spiritual subject. The self and the future an analysis and critique introduction an initial question. Books by bernard williams author of ethics and the limits. Response to bernard williams in the self and the future seth carter i n the essay, the self and the future, bernard williams presents two instances of a thought experiment that lead the reader to intuit two distinct conclusions on the preservation of personal identity.
Sir bernard arthur owen williams, fba 21 september 1929 10 june 2003 was an english moral philosopher. This bernard williams has done in a number of essays. Bernard williamss most popular book is meditations on first philosophy. Personal identity, projects, and morality in bernard. In morality bernard williams confronts the problems of writing moral philosophy, and offers a stimulating alternative to more systematic accounts which seem nevertheless to have left all the important issues somewhere off the page. A new volume of philosophical essays by bernard williams.
Bernard williams has 48 books on goodreads with 12220 ratings. Response to bernard williams in the self and the future. Lxxix, 1970, now collected in problems of the self, cambridg. Williams argues that it is a matter of logic that particular sorts of needs constitute a reason for receiving particular goods. Problems of the self by bernard williams june 1973. His publications include problems of the self 1973, ethics and the limits of philosophy 1985, shame and necessity 1993, and truth and truthfulness 2002. See all 8 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. Problems of the self pdf bernard williams problems of the self philosophical papers 19561972. Bernard williams paper the makropulos case 1995 words. The construction of a political value, in in the beginning was the deed princet on. This is a reworked version of a rev iew of bernard williams s problems of the self. Philosophical papers 19561972 kindle edition by bernard williams author format. Problems of the self by williams, bernard and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Cambridge university press 0521290600 problems of the self.
Reflections on the tedium of immortality from problems of the self pp. Cambridge university press 0521290600 problems of the. In contrast to some of his other writings, williams did not appear in his later political essays such as this. Bernard williams on philosophys need for history colin koopman i n a number of recent works published just before and just after his death, bernard williams explored in great detail the very timely idea that there is an important internal connection between the practice of philosophy and the practice of history. General interest problems of the self by bernard williams skip to main content accessibility help we use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Philosophical papers 19561972 williams, bernard on. Moral luck occurs when an agent can be correctly treated as an object of moral judgment despite the fact that a significant aspect of what she is assessed for depends on factors beyond her control. The first is selfconsciousness the fact that there seems to be a peculiar. Bernard williams on personal identity thought experiments.
Thus the feat of imagining an exchange of bodies is supposed possible in the most restricted sense. Problems of the self to exist, and to be obscured or neglected by actual social arrangements. Bernard williams, personal identity, bodily continuity, projects, morality, character, personal relations introduction o ne constant in bernard williams writings is the idea of persons as. This is a reworked version of a rev iew of bernard williamss problems of the self. Bernard williams page start 82 page end 100 doi 10.
Problems of the self by bernard williams cambridge university press. Problems of the self by bernard williams cambridge core. Williamsnotespart11 williams bernard\the makropulos. Problems of the self by bernard williams, 9780521290609, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Bernard williams problems of the self philosophical papers. As knightbridge professor of philosophy at the university of cambridge and deutsch professor of. Bernard williams stanford encyclopedia of philosophy. Bernard williams paper the makropulos case 1995 words 8 pages in his paper the makropulos case. Abstract a discussion of egoism and altruism as related both to ethical theory and moral psychology. Ebook nonfiction philosophy religion philosophy general bernard williams. Williams doubts that a negatively immortal man can bring a later character and its desires into a relation to his present ones.
414 1106 1099 93 1559 715 1602 1535 372 173 545 1228 565 1016 1192 1264 661 1327 393 91 1301 1021 937 319 1191 877 35 1467 447 733 708 1419 1280 1181 985 472 303 950 1397 1367 625 534 392 309 690 611