Notes for tuesday 2-19


Theory of Value- Hedonism (only happiness or pleasure has intrinsic value)

Other possible intrinsic values-
Health Personal growth
Knowledge meaning
Freedom spirituality
Beauty/arts Achievement-doing something of lasting value
Relationships

Nozick's experience machine- a thought experiment. The fact that most people would not hook-up to the machine shows there is more to life then happiness.

- If you reject the machine, you reject the Theory of value-Hedonism

Theory of action- consequentialism- the right act is that which maximizes good consequences or maximizes what is valuable

Consequentialism + Hedonism = Utilitarianism

NO RIGHTS OR OBLIGATIONS EXCEPT THOSE, WHICH SPRING FROM MAXIMIZING HAPPINESS.

For Utilitarianism- maximize happiness

Shopping - me +10; shops +3; me -2; total +11
Marry rich- me +15; partner +9; total +24
Helping at the mission- me +2; staff +8; homeless +30; total +40

Criticisms to utilitarianism-
1) Too demanding- self-sacrifice
2) Too permissive- allows seemingly immoral acts to be done for the greater good. "The ends justify the means"
Ex. Organ transplant case- kill one for five