Chapter 7 Summary

Judging something morally wrong usually has to do with its impact on other people. But is there any reason to care about how our actions affect others? To make his case that there is, Nagel appeals to the resentment each of us would almost certainly feel if we were harmed by someone else’s inconsiderate behavior. This feeling implies that the one who harms us would have a reason not to do so. That same reason would apply to anyone else in a similar situation—ourselves included. Simple consistency dictates that if we think others have reasons not to harm us—have reasons, that is, to care about us—then we, too, have reasons to care about others.