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Projectivist utilitarianism and the satisfaction of desire

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Abstract

N. M. L. Nathan's argument that IDP utilitarianism, if universally adopted, is inconsistent, does not succeed. The argument requires that if an IDP utilitarian has only self-regarding desires, then none of these desires can be informed. This rests on a partial misuse of the expression ‘satisfaction of desire’. For an individual attempting to realize his self-regarding desires, the satisfaction of the ‘satisfaction of a desire’ is unmeaning. The naming of an object of the desire is an intrinsic part of the phrase ‘satisfaction of desire’. Further, contrary to Nathan's claim, this suggestion does not trivialize IDP utilitarianism.

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Gordon, D. Projectivist utilitarianism and the satisfaction of desire. Erkenntnis 29, 437–443 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00183073

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00183073

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