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If one of our philosophical goals is to find an ethical theory that is in reflective equilibrium with our considered ethical judgments, we must consider the possibility that there is no such theory, or that we have not yet constructed such a theory. In his discussion of utilitarianism, J. J. C. Smart makes the following comment:
Perhaps indeed it is too much to hope that there is any possible ethical system which will appeal to all sides of our nature and to all our moods. It is perfectly possible to have conflicting attitudes within oneself. It is quire conceivable that there is no possible ethical theory which will be conformable with all our attitudes. If the theory is utilitarian, then the possibility that sometimes it would be right to commit injustice will be felt to be acutely unsatisfactory by someone with a normal civilized upbringing. If on the other hand it is not utilitarian but has deontological elements, then it will have the unsatisfactory implication that sometimes avoidable misery (perhaps very great avoidable misery) ought not to be avoided. [J. J. C. Smart, Utiltiarianism For & Against, p. 72.]