The Smuggled Ledger of Moral Mathematics

Language philosopher Bry Willis argues that the non-identity problem in moral philosophy is not a genuine paradox of reality, but rather a failure of language. Willis contends that thinkers like Derek Parfit and David Benatar rely on a metaphor of moral accounting, where human well-being is treated as a currency and lives are managed like financial ledgers. This bookkeeping vocabulary falters when applied to potential people who do not yet exist, as the comparative definitions of harm and benefit require a subject to be present in both scenarios. According to Willis, the resulting contradictions are not signs of an incomplete theory, but evidence that mathematical metaphors have been stretched beyond their logical limits. Ultimately, the author suggests that we should stop seeking a "Theory X" to solve these puzzles and instead recognise the linguistic overextension at their core.👉 https://brywillis634737.substack.com/