Peter Graham (University of Massachusetts): Subjectivism, Actualism, and Beneficial Sacrifice
Presently there are two very lively debates ongoing in normative ethics: the Actualism/Possibilism debate and the Subjectivism/Objectivism debate. In this talk I argue that the correct moral theory is an Objectivist Possibilist one. First, I argue that Subjectivism entails Actualism; in particular, I argue that the only plausible way of constructing a version of Possibilist Subjectivism yields results no Subjectivist could find plausible. And then, second, I argue that Actualism is false; in particular, I argue that Actualism yields implausible results in certain cases involving permissible beneficial sacrifice—cases in which it is permissible to cause harm to some in order to prevent others from suffering harm.