How Should A Person Live

Bernard Williams is one o f the most important philosophers o f the twentieth century, who used ancient Greek philosophy to adjust the direction o f moral philosophy. All o f his ethical thoughts aim to answer Socrates5 famous question that Mhow one should l i v e ’ He examines and criticizes two ways o f answering Socrates’ question-utilitarianism that based on happiness and Kantian duty-centered ethics. And he claims that impartialism o f moral system is not a real option for our ethical life. He pointed out that the only in te rn a l reason" can be a reason for an action. Moral life is not an abstract system that high above other systems; it is deeply rooted in every person’s life, which is understandable only when it is connected with one5 s life. Besides, ethical life is deeply influenced by luck, so we should put those factors into moral evaluation.Williams criticized the destruction o f human integrity from moral system. But it doesn’t mean that he is in favor o f subjective or arbitrary moral choose. He stressed the balance o f ’’se lf 丨 and 丨’others1’? He is often considered to be a moral relativist, but in fact he had expressed him self on the nvulgar relativism". He asserts an attitude o f "relativism o f distance11. And he never underestimates the significance o f morality in human life. He supports the existence o f ethical truth; his skepticism is against the concept o f absolute objective ethical truth and moral systems which make human ethical life abstract. Though his theories o f internal reason and moral luck contain difficulties or fallacies, they aim to restore the truth o f life, so that people will pursue their real ethical choose on the base o f understanding themselves.