IF text 6
48 Questions
0 Views

Choose a study mode

Play Quiz
Study Flashcards
Spaced Repetition
Chat to lesson

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What is the primary ethical consideration in population ethics that is highlighted by Fleurbaey and Voorhoeve?

  • Rights of current individuals over future generations
  • Value of individual life
  • Consequential outcomes of population size
  • Priority or equality for possible future people (correct)

    • Which philosopher discusses the relationship between utilitarianism and virtues?

  • Robert Nozick
  • Derek Parfit
  • Yew-kwang Ng
  • Philippa Foot (correct)

    • What ethical challenge does Heyd address in relation to futurity problems?

  • Impacts of economic policies on future generations
  • Rights of actualized individuals over potential individuals
  • Consequences of population regulations
  • Moral obligations towards future individuals (correct)

    • What is the main concern of Huemer in 'In Defence of Repugnance'?

    <p>Exploring the nature of moral disgust</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does Carlson's 'Consequentialism Reconsidered' contribute to the discourse on ethical theories?

    <p>It revisits the foundations of consequentialist views.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What topic is discussed by Kitcher in relation to Parfit's philosophical problems?

    <p>The nature of moral obligations to future generations</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What unique argument does Narveson present regarding population morality?

    <p>Moral obligations are only towards current persons.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What ethical dilemma is raised by Hare in 'Voices from Another World'?

    <p>Respecting the interests of non-existent individuals.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the Repugnant Conclusion initially seem to be?

    <p>Repugnant to untutored intuition</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which theorist argues against the notion that the Repugnant Conclusion is clearly unacceptable?

    <p>Torbjörn Tännsjö</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What do some suggest to escape from the impossibility theorems?

    <p>Deny the assumptions regarding well-being scale</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What principle does Arrhenius’ Second and Fifth theorem include that is close to the Mere Addition principle?

    <p>Dominance Addition</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What do the impossibility theorems depend on regarding their normative force?

    <p>Assumption of choice-set-independence</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why is denying the Repugnant Conclusion significant in discussions of impossibility theorems?

    <p>It helps to escape from all impossibility theorems simultaneously.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a common but mistaken response to the impossibility theorems?

    <p>They are only problematic for consequentialists.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which theorist's work suggests that vagueness or incompleteness might help escape impossibility theorems?

    <p>Derek Parfit</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What problem is associated with Averagism as discussed?

    <p>It can result in a situation where adding people with negative well-being is better.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the Mere Addition Principle state?

    <p>A state of affairs can be worse if it includes additional lives worth living.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which issue arises from Variable Value theories?

    <p>They imply diminishing returns on the value of adding individuals in larger populations.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What conclusion does Averagism seemingly accept regarding population size?

    <p>Smaller populations may benefit more from adding individuals with positive well-being.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which problem does Averagism NOT solve?

    <p>All ethical dilemmas regarding population welfare.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does adding a large number of people with below-average well-being affect average well-being?

    <p>It can reduce the average more significantly than adding fewer individuals with negative well-being.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a key characteristic of the Variable Value theories?

    <p>They argue for diminishing marginal value of adding additional individuals.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes the Sadistic Conclusion?

    <p>Adding individuals with negative well-being can sometimes yield better results than adding those with positive well-being.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the Variable Value theory propose about the value of a state of affairs X?

    <p>VVV(X) is given by Xg(|X|), where g is a strictly increasing and concave function.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does the function g(|X|) behave at small population sizes according to the Variable Value theory?

    <p>The function approximates Totalism that mere additions amount to improvements.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the critical threshold α in the context of well-being levels?

    <p>A point below which each additional person's existence is considered a detriment.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which scenario does the Variable Value theory align with to avoid the Repugnant Conclusion?

    <p>A situation where well-being ε is substantially less than α, leading to negative overall value.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What characteristic can be attributed to the function g in the Variable Value theory?

    <p>It is a strictly increasing and concave function with a horizontal asymptote.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the context of the Variable Value theory, what happens when an additional person's well-being w is negative?

    <p>The overall value of the world decreases.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a key implication of Critical Level theories in terms of population assessment?

    <p>They indicate that well-being levels above the critical threshold create positive contribution.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What condition must hold for the A-population to have a positive value according to the theories discussed?

    <p>The average well-being level must be above the critical level α.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main criterion for Totalism to determine if one state of affairs A is better than another state of affairs B?

    <p>Total well-being in A is higher than total well-being in B.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What notation is used to represent the average well-being level in a given state of affairs?

    <p>X</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following axiologies suggests that if two states of affairs have equal average well-being, they are equally good?

    <p>Averagism</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a significant objection made against Totalism?

    <p>It leads to the Repugnant Conclusion.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which value function represents Totalism?

    <p>VTot(X) = |X|X</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What defines the threshold for the zero point on the well-being scale in Totalism?

    <p>The point at which life is deemed not worth living.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    If Totalism is rejected, what might some people consider embracing as an alternative?

    <p>Averagism.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the relationship between total well-being and average well-being in the context of these population axiologies?

    <p>Total well-being can be higher while average well-being is lower.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the Principle of Equal Existence imply about adding an extra person to a state of affairs?

    <p>It suggests the new state of affairs is equally good as the original state of affairs.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why is the Principle of Equal Existence considered self-contradictory?

    <p>It fails to account for different well-being levels of the new person.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is meant by 'The Asymmetry' in the context of non-impartial theories?

    <p>The addition of a new person with strictly negative well-being can worsen a state of affairs.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What conclusion can be drawn about the effect of adding a person in the Principle of Equal Existence?

    <p>Different scenarios yield differing outcomes on life's value.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do non-impartial theories differ from impartial ones in their consideration of well-being?

    <p>They recognize the varying impacts of individuals' well-being on a state's evaluation.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What issue arises when considering a state of affairs A and a state of affairs B with added individuals?

    <p>Evaluating their goodness becomes complicated by well-being differences.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does Broome argue about the Principle of Equal Existence?

    <p>Its implications lead to logical contradictions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which aspect of the Principle of Equal Existence is critiqued as leading to transitive inconsistencies?

    <p>Equating different states solely based on additional persons.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Population Axiology

    • Population axiology is the study of when one state of affairs is better than another, considering the number and identities of people who ever live.

    Extant Theories

    • Existing theories include totalism (total well-being is better), averagism (average well-being is better), variable value theories, critical level theories, and "person-affecting" theories.
    • Each theory has objections.

    Impossibility Theorems

    • It's possible to prove that no population axiology can satisfy all intuitively compelling desiderata simultaneously.
    • This means a choice of population axiology involves choosing which intuition to prioritize.

    Population Ethics and Population Axiology: Basic Questions

    • Fixed-population ethics is sufficient when an agent's decisions don't affect the number and identity of those born.
    • Variable-population ethics (population ethics) is needed when decisions affect the number and identity of births.
    • Examples include: having children, resource allocation, climate change, and birth control measures.

    Population Axiology - Key Concepts

    • Betterness-Overall: Describes a measure of whether one state of affairs is better than another, considering all people involved.
    • Well-being Levels: An individual's level of good or bad in a particular state. A crucial aspect of most population axiologies.

    Totalism & Averagism

    • Totalism: States that a state of affairs is better if the total well-being across all persons is higher.
    • Averagism: States that a state of affairs is better if the average well-being is higher.

    Criticism of Totalism & Averagism

    • Repugnant Conclusion (Totalism): For any state, there's a better state with more people, but very low well-being.
    • Sadistic Conclusion (Averagism): Adding people with negative well-being can sometimes be better than adding people with positive well-being.

    Variable Value Views

    • These views consider the declining value of adding more people, especially in high-population scenarios. The marginal value of adding another person decreases with the total population.

    Critical Level Theories

    • Adds a threshold (critical level) to Totalism. Only adding people whose well-being is above the critical level actually improves total well-being.
    • Avoids the Repugnant and Sadistic conclusions.
    • Weak repulsive conclusions are still possible.

    Person-Affecting Views

    • Neutrality Principle: Adding people who won't affect others' well-being, makes no difference.
    • Principle of Equal Existence: The addition of a new person doesn't improve or worsen the overall state of affairs (if everything else stays the same).
    • Non-Impartial Theories (Presentism, Actualism): Emphasize the impact of new people on existing people's well-being.

    Impossibility Theorems

    • These theorems show that common approaches in population ethics (like totalism and averagism) have inherent problems, potentially leading to conflicting or non-intuitive conclusions.
    • Some attempt to resolve these conflicts rely on assumptions about the possible scope of well-being calculations.

    Harm Minimization Theories

    • Focuses on comparing harm by comparing people's well-being to a baseline.
    • Avoids some problems of other theories.
    • Still has problems associated with the relative value/ranking of possible populations.

    Theories with Widespread Incomparability

    • State that comparisons between different populations can not always be made.
    • This is due to the complexity of considering well-being across differing populations and potentially vast numbers of people.

    Studying That Suits You

    Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

    Quiz Team

    Related Documents

    Population Axiology PDF

    Description

    Explore the complex field of population axiology, which examines how to evaluate different states of affairs by considering the well-being of individuals across varying population scenarios. This quiz covers existing theories, impossibility theorems, and the distinctions between fixed and variable-population ethics.

    More Like This

    4.03 - Population Dynamics Flashcards
    16 questions

    4.03 - Population Dynamics Flashcards

    QuietRubidium avatar
    QuietRubidium
    Biology Flashcards: Population Dynamics
    15 questions

    Biology Flashcards: Population Dynamics

    WellBacklitJasmine avatar
    WellBacklitJasmine
    Population Dynamics and Growth Fundamentals
    31 questions

    Population Dynamics and Growth Fundamentals

    SucceedingHexagon avatar
    SucceedingHexagon
    Population Density Geography Flashcards
    24 questions

    Population Density Geography Flashcards

    WieldyJadeite4115 avatar
    WieldyJadeite4115
    Use Quizgecko on...
    Browser
    Open
    Browser
    Browser