PHI 115 Chapter 5

According to Hobbes, for what reasons do humans create a social contract?

1. To avoid unpredictable violence against themselves. 2. To gain the chance for prosperity.

Ethical egoism says that one should always do what advances one's own best interests. Accordingly, it implies that _______. This means that a criterion of moral adequacy that ethical egoism does not need is _______.

1. we should not treat equals equally 2. consistency with our moral experiences

Carlos can choose between the following three options. Action A results in 5 people gaining 10 units of happiness. Action B results in one person gaining 100 units of happiness and 5 people losing 5 units of happiness. If Carlos does nothing, there will be no change in anyone's happiness. According to act-utilitarianism, which option should Carlos choose?

Action B, since more happiness is created than in any other option.

Jack, an ethical egoist, wants to borrow money from his friend, DeAndre, even though he has no intention of paying the money back. If DeAndre asks Jack for advice on what ethical theory he should accept, what would Jack be likely to say?

An ethical theory other than ethical egoism.

Principle of utility

Bentham's "principle which approves or disproves of every action whatsoever, according to the tendency which it appears to have to augment or diminish the happiness of the party whose interest is in question."

Ethical egoism says that it can be right to harm innocent people, if doing so advances one's best interests. This shows that ethical egoism does not meet which criterium or criteria of moral adequacy?

Consistency with our moral experiences. Consistency with considered moral judgments.

One major objection to social contract theory is that it implies that vulnerable individuals who cannot fully participate in society—the severely disabled, the chronically ill, the elderly, and so on—have no moral standing. What responses have defenders of social contract theory made to this objection?

Everyone may end up being vulnerable in one or more of those ways at some point, which provides a reason to ensure that society takes care of such members. People who are fully participating members of society care about those vulnerable members, which provides a reason to treat them with respect.

Shivam, a committed rule-utilitarian, obeys the rule "Do not lie." However, he quickly finds himself in situations where he could tell white lies that would hurt no one, and would actually make other people feel better. In light of this, he changes the rule to "Do not lie, unless doing so will create more net happiness." If Shivam changes the rule, what problem does this create for the moral system that he is following?

Following this rule would mean that Shivam is no longer a rule-utilitarian.

According to Jeremy Bentham, what is the only thing that is intrinsically good?

Happiness

Mark is often in situations where his interests conflict with the interests of others. For example, he can help others in his dormitory study for tomorrow's exam, but doing so will take away from his own time to study. According to ethical egoism, how should Mark weigh his interests against the interests of others?

He should weigh only his interests.

Sasha, who works at a very high-paying job, is out with her co-workers when a homeless person asks her for some money. If Sasha is an ethical egoist, why might she give the homeless person money?

Her colleagues will like and respect her less if she refuses to give the money, making it more difficult for her to succeed. The grateful homeless person may do her a favor at a future time.

Consider the following argument for psychological egoism: 1. People's actions result in satisfaction. 2. Therefore, satisfaction is the reason why people do an action. Why is this argument mistaken?

It confuses the results of an action with the motivation for an action.

Consider the following argument for psychological egoism: 1. People's actions result in satisfaction. 2. Therefore, satisfaction is the reason why people do an action. Why is this argument mistaken?

It confuses the results of an action with the motivation for an action.

Jeremy Bentham described the principle of utility in this way: "By the principle of utility is meant that principle which approves or disapproves of every action whatsoever, according to the tendency which is appears to have to augment or diminish the happiness of the party whose interest is in question: or, w act is the same thing in other words, to promote or to oppose that happiness..." What makes the principle of utility, as Bentham describes it, a consequentialist principle?

It evaluates actions entirely by the outcomes they produce.

Jeremy Bentham described the principle of utility in this way: "By the principle of utility is meant that principle which approves or disapproves of every action whatsoever, according to the tendency which it appears to have to augment or diminish the happiness of the party whose interest is in question: or, what is the same thing in other words, to promote or to oppose that happiness..." What makes the principle of utility, as Bentham describes it, a consequentialist principle?

It evaluates actions entirely by the outcomes they produce.

Act-utilitarianism says that we should do whatever action would result in the greatest net happiness. What would act-utilitarianism say about occasionally playing video games?

It is morally wrong to play video games.

Greatest happiness principle

Mill's principle that "holds that actions are right in proportion as they tend to provost happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness."

What statements that most accurately describes ethical egoism.

One's only moral duty is to promote the most favorable balance of good over evil for oneself. The right action is the one that advances one's own best interests.

Which of the following beliefs are common to both utilitarianism and ethical egoism?

One's own interests are relevant in determining what is right. What is right is determined by the consequences of an action. What is good can be defined in terms of pleasure.

Ethical egoism says that the right thing to do is that which advances one's best interests. What are ways egoists have defined "one's best interests"?

Pleasure, fulfilling one's potential, and the satisfaction of desires.

Which of the following actions could be thought of as a counterexample to psychological egoism?

Sacrificing one's life to save a stranger; self-destructive behavior that one knows is harmful, like smoking.

John Stuart Mill provided an argument in favor of utilitarianism. A version of the argument goes like this: 1. Humans by nature desire happiness and nothing but happiness. 2. Therefore, happiness is the standard we should use to judge human conduct. Why is this argument invalid?

The argument reasons from what is to what should be.

What is the premise of the argument that best expresses ethical egoism?

The right action is the one that advances one's own best interests.

Social contract theory

The theory that morality arises from a social contract that self-interested and rational people abde by in order to secure a degree of peace, prosperity, and safety.

Act-egoism

The theory that to determine right action, you must apply the egoistic principle to individual acts.

Rule-egoism

The theory that to determine right action, you must see if an act falls under a rule that if consistently followed would maximize your self-interest.

Psychological egoism

The view that the motive for all of our actions is self-interest.

One of the major objections to social contract theory is that few people have ever overtly consented to the terms of a contract. How do defenders of social contract theory respond to this objection?

What matters is not whether we have actually consented to the contract, but whether we would do so if we were rational. People do not give explicit consent to the contract, but do give implicit consent.

According to social contract theory, what is the relationship between morality and society-wide agreements among people for the sake of mutual advantage?

Whatever agreements people come to for the sake of mutual advantage define morality.

What beliefs are common to both utilitarianism and ethical egoism?

1- One's own interests are relevant in determining what is right. 2- What is right is determined by the consequences of an action. 3- What is good can be defined in terms of pleasure.

What rules would be the result of a social contract?

1. Enforcements of promises 2. Prohibitions on lying and fraud

Derek finds pleasure I recreationally taking hard drugs. Why might ethical egoism not recommend that he do so regularly?

1. Ethical egoism may define one's "best interests" in many ways. Derek's drug use may work against his best interests as defined by measures such as health. 2. While hard drugs may create some initial pleasure, the potential consequences of doing these drugs (such as addiction and withdrawal) may end up being against Derek's own best interests. 3. Doing hard drugs is usually illegal and thus may put one in danger of legal punishment.