38 Questions
What is the core principle of psychological egoism?
Always seeking one's own advantage or welfare
What is the main difference between ethical egoism and utilitarianism?
Ethical egoism prioritizes individual good, while utilitarianism prioritizes collective good
What is the ultimate goal of human activity according to ego-satisfaction?
To seek ego-satisfaction and personal pleasure
What is the problem with inferring an ethical conclusion from a psychological premise?
It is logically incorrect and invalid
What is the basic principle of utilitarianism?
Maximizing goodness for the greatest number
What is the main argument against psychological egoism?
It is unrealistic and even unreasonable
What is the primary goal of Bentham's utilitarianism?
Maximize pleasure and minimize suffering
What is the term used to describe John Stuart Mill's version of utilitarianism?
Eudaimonistic utilitarianism
What is a more promising strategy for solving dilemmas?
Definite moral rules
What is the main goal of human nature according to ethical egoism?
To seek the greatest good for oneself
According to Mill, what are the two types of pleasures?
Lower and higher
What is the characteristic of higher pleasures, according to Mill?
They are more long-term, continuous, and gradual
What is the main difference between Bentham's and Mill's utilitarianism?
Bentham focuses on quantity, while Mill focuses on quality
What is the Greek term that means 'happiness'?
Eudaimonia
What does Mill mean by 'it is better to be a human being dissatisfied than a pig satisfied'?
The quality of higher pleasures is better
What is the purpose of measuring hedons in Bentham's utilitarianism?
To decide which act to perform
According to Mill, happiness is comprised of:
few and transitory pains
What is Mill's litmus test for happiness concerned with?
A hedonic cultivated state of mind
What is the main issue with act-utilitarianism?
It requires complex calculations
What is the key characteristic of rule-utilitarianism?
It is based on moral rules
Why do humans rely on rules according to rule-utilitarianism?
Because we don't have time to decide which action produces more utility
What is a limitation of act-utilitarianism according to Bentham?
It requires complex calculations
What are the higher qualities emphasized by Mill?
Knowledge, intelligence, freedom, friendship, love, and health
What is the main goal of utilitarianism?
To achieve the greatest good for the greatest number
What is the main principle of Jeremy Bentham's philosophy?
Maximize the total utility or welfare of the majority of all the affected parties
What is altruism, according to the text?
An action that is favorable to all except the actor
What is psychological altruism, according to the text?
The capacity to show benevolence to others
What do altruists believe about human nature?
Humans are instinctively benevolent
What is the characteristic of an altruistic desire, according to the text?
It concerns the benefit of at least someone other than oneself
What is the basis of our altruistic moral obligations, according to the text?
Instinctive benevolence
What is the fundamental idea behind the Kingdom of Ends?
We should consider our actions to have consequences for everyone else
What is the main problem with the categorical imperative?
It is too rigid
What does the term 'prima facie' mean?
On the surface
What is an example of a prima facie duty?
Keeping promises
What is an actual duty according to Ross?
Action that one ought to perform after considering and weighing all the prima facie duties involved
What should we consider ourselves to be members of, according to Kant?
The universal realm of ends
What happens when faced with a situation that presents conflicting prima facie duties, according to Ross?
We should weigh the prima facie duties and choose the more obligatory one
What is the characteristic of prima facie duties?
They are moral guidelines that may be overridden
Study Notes
Ethical Egoism
- Ethical egoism assumes psychological egoism, which states that individuals always seek their own greatest good, whether it's pleasure, happiness, knowledge, power, self-realization, or a mixed life.
- According to this theory, "self-love" is the only basic principle in human nature, and "ego-satisfaction" is the final aim of all activity.
- One cannot logically infer an ethical conclusion from a psychological premise, but it is reasonable to propose that we ought to do what is for our own greatest good.
Utilitarianism
- Utilitarianism is a universal teleological system that aims to maximize goodness in society, promoting the greatest happiness for the greatest number.
- This theory was developed by Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill.
- Bentham's utilitarianism involves maximizing pleasure and minimizing suffering, with a focus on quantitative measurements and impartial application of the principle.
- Mill's version, known as eudaimonistic utilitarianism, distinguishes happiness from mere sensual pleasure and emphasizes higher-order pleasures or satisfactions.
Types of Utilitarianism
- Act-utilitarianism: an act is right if and only if it results in as much good as any available alternative.
- Rule-utilitarianism: an act is right if and only if it is required by a rule that is itself a member of a set of rules whose acceptance would lead to greater utility for society than any available alternative.
Altruism
- Altruism is a theory that holds that an action is right if the consequences of that action are favorable to all except the actor.
- Psychological altruism argues that humans have an inherent psychological capacity to show benevolence to others.
- Altruists act to increase other people's pleasure, even if it decreases their own pleasure and causes themselves pain.
Principle of Autonomy (Immanuel Kant)
- The principle of autonomy states that we should consider ourselves to be members in the universal realm of ends.
- Every rational being must act as if they were always a legislating member in the universal kingdom of ends.
- This principle considers the consequences of our actions on everyone else in the universal realm.
Criticisms and Limitations
- The categorical imperative can be overly rigid and may not account for exceptions and complexities in morality.
- Morality is often too complex for these theories to fully work.
Ross's Prima Facie Duties
- Prima facie duties are moral guidelines that dictate what we should do when other moral factors are not considered.
- Examples of prima facie duties include the duty to keep promises, to avoid harm, and to promote the common good.
- Actual duty is the action that one ought to perform after considering and weighing all the prima facie duties involved.
Explore the concepts of ethical egoism and psychological egoism, including the idea that individuals seek their own greatest good and self-love as the only basic motivation.
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