...In his paper, Moral Motivation and Human Nature: Psychological Egoism, Feinberg argues against psychological egoism hedonism by showing that it is paradoxical. Furthermore he shows that this means that arguments for this position are also false. This paper looks to reconstruct this argument, and show the implications of it. Feinberg is arguing against psychological egoism hedonism, which states that humans only act to obtain one’s own pleasure, and hence happiness. Psychological egoism hedonism can be argued for since teaching morality requires incentivising good behaviour with pleasures, and disincentives bad behaviour with pain. Hence, this shows that people act morally as a means to gain pleasure, and thus presupposes Hedonism. Feinberg...
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...hedonic calculus in making a moral decision. 1st paragraph Death penalty * What is it? * Controversial debate * Talk about how modern society compensation, people want pay back for the loss * Many are in favour some aren’t believe life is valuable 2nd paragraph * A terrorist * Death penalty favourable great happiness * Looking at the hedonic calculus 7 measures how they fit in category? Benefit society how? * Summarise back to the question yes utilitarian then see its good moral decision say it’s good considering all views 3rd paragraph Counter argument * However, doesn’t look at the minority? * How can utilitarian use the hedonic calculus to make a decision? It doesn’t look what else can happen from the action u do. More death threats for the country etc. * Subjective * Summarise back to question 4th paragraph * How can u use the calculator? * Immeasurable * Summarise Conclusion In conclusion, a Unitarian will go through the criteria in the hedonic caucus to see if the death penalty is compatible to the criteria and if it will bring a majority of happiness in society. It can be easily applied to many moral issues but some issues can arise from using the...
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...interested in the area of social reform during the 18th century and his theory of Utilitarianism is as a result of this passion. Bentham’s theory became to be known as Act Utilitarianism. This is because the theory was concerned with the amount of happiness and pleasure that an individual’s action causes in order to decide whether it is morally right or wrong. Utilitarianism is a teleological theory, this being as the morality is not concerned with the action itself, but rather the consequences of said action and the amount of pleasure it subsequently results in. For example, if an act results in a high amount of pleasure then it can be deemed to be morally justifiable, where as if no pleasure is created then the act would be morally unjustifiable and wrong. The rightness or wrongness of an act is determined by both the pleasure in which it creates and its utility/usefulness. Bentham said that the morality of an action can be calculated by looking at the amount of pleasure it produced; as well as using what he developed as the Hedonic Calculus. The Hedonic Calculus places a numerical value on the morality of an action, this being calculated through a number of criteria that mist be given a value for an action. There are seven criteria to the Hedonic Calculus, these include: fecundity – how fertile will the pleasure be in producing other pleasures, extent – how many people are affected, duration – the length of time the pleasure will last, purity – is the pleasure “ill-gotten”...
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...is a product of mainly Tarkovsky however, Roadside Picnic, still heavily influenced the plot of Stalker. However as is with many movie adaptations, the book is significantly different from the movie. It is often the opinion that movies that are different from the book’s they are based on, are not good. But this begs the question does differences make a movie worse? What are some criteria for a good piece of Science Fiction and are there different criteria for different forms such as a novel vs. a movie. One criteria that should transcend from the novel to the movie are the themes presented. A movie that can still evoke the deep ideas and thoughts that are attached to a theme is an effective and “good” movie adaptation, despite plot differences. Tarkovsky, in Stalker, effectively...
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...life. So, we must move on to see if the principle of forfeiture applies. While North Korea has threatened the United States, the threats have never come to fruition so the threat does not appear imminent and the principle of forfeiture should not validate the violation of life. Next, we must consider the qualifying principle of double effect. The act of protecting your own nation is morally permissible, so preemptive war meets the first criteria. The bad effect of innocent people dying is unavoidable if war is waged to protect the United States, but innocent people don’t die if diplomacy succeeds, so the second criteria is arguably not met. If we consider war to be the only viable mechanism of protecting the United States due to a history of failed diplomacy, we can move to the third principle. It meets the third criteria, because the deaths of innocent people is not the means of protecting your nation. Lastly though, the loss of innocent lives appears to outweigh the possible peace and protection resulting from preemptive war, so the final criteria is not met meaning the principle of double effect concludes that the act of preemptive war against North Korea is morally...
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...Experience Machine Objection Utilitarianism is a normative moral theory, which suggests that actions are seen as right if they tend to produce happiness to the majority and wrong if they tend to be wrong if they produce unhappiness. This theory can take on the form of act utilitarianism although in this essay, I will be focusing solely on hedonistic utilitarianism as well as an objection to this theory, the experience machine objection. Robert Nozick introduced this objection. Following an explanation of both hedonistic utilitarianism and the experience machine objection I will be critically evaluating the objection. I am going to argue that the experience machine objection is valid against hedonistic utilitarianism because there are people who would not plug into the machine. There are some people who prefer to physically do things not just experience them, don’t want to be limited to a man-made reality and want to make a difference in the world. Two key contributors to the normative moral theory of utilitarianism are Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill. Utilitarianism specifies what makes an action morally correct or incorrect. The theory suggests, “actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness and wrong, as they tend to produce the opposite of happiness.” (Mill 454) It is a type of consequentialism as even though the act itself may be morally wrong, if it produces the best consequences it is seen as a morally right action. For example, killing one healthy...
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...Bentham’s utilitarianism may be applied to one ethical issue of your choice Organ donation Utilitarian's believe that humans are motivated by the pursuit to maximise happiness and minimise pain, which is called a hedonist view. Utilitarianism is an ethical principle, a philosophical system which takes into account consequences of an action rather than motives, where the happiness of the greatest number should be the result, as it is therefore morally right. Jeremy Bentham's understanding of the utilitarian principle is called Act Utilitarianism. His approach states that the rightness or wrongness of an individual act is calculated by the amount of happiness that results from the act. His view is also a hedonist view, which proposes that the main good is pleasure, whilst the main evil is pain. He therefore proposed that all humans pursue the maximisation of pleasure and minimisation of pain. Bentham believed in the greatest good for the greatest number, and believed that quantity (rather than Mills belief in quality) played the main role in deciding whether an act was good or not, as the one providing most pleasure for most people, whilst providing least or no pain, is seen as the best choice by Bentham. To decide the value of happiness created with such act, Bentham would apply the Hedonic calculus, with 7 criteria which help to calculate pain and pleasure generated by the act. Intensity would be applied to see how intense the pleasure or pain is, duration to see how long will...
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...consequentialism, is one of the most notable and influential moral theories. The basic concept behind utilitarianism is that the morality of an action is based solely on the consequences it produces. People possessing utilitarian views believe that a person’s actions should be chosen to maximize utility for the greater good of all people. In the article “Against Utilitarianism,” British philosopher Bernard Williams aims to discredit the validity of the utilitarian argument. He supports his argument through examples of moral dilemmas and working definitions of utilitarian terms. Although Williams presents a compelling case against utilitarianism, such a prominent theory in philosophy cannot be reproached so quickly. Utilitarianism enhances overall happiness and utility without disparaging individual integrity. The concepts making up utilitarianism are extensive, however two of the most fundamental concepts include negative responsibility and integrity. Negative responsibility is the belief that a person is as responsible for the consequences of an action that they failed to prevent as they are for the actions they carry out. The idea of negative responsibility is directly related to utilitarianism because it deals with the concept that a person is responsible for consequences brought about by their being. This includes a person’s lack of action which, in itself, is considered an action to a utilitarian. Based on negative responsibility in accordance with utilitarianism, a person should...
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...own personal happiness. Some people consider the pursuit of happiness a challenge, others a source of trouble and suffering. While, some strive all their lives to seize happiness by overcoming all kinds of roadblocks, by giving away something close to the heart or by accepting a situation that might violate their comfort zone. Three reasons people crave happiness are that they want to have a life free of discomfort, they want to feel integrated in society, and they want what they cannot always get. One reason people crave happiness is they want to have a life free of trouble. Whenever people are asked about their main goal in life, happiness is the response a majority gives. It is commonly known for people to strive for happiness, a natural instinct everybody is born with, in order to stay far away from a life submerged in unhappiness and discomfort. Craving happiness is mainly considered as a way to cope with real life, full of stress, anxiety and responsibility, to reach the impression of living an ideal and happy life, away from all kinds of roadblocks. For instance, fresh graduates are typically excited about their new career lives and are ready to work extra hard because they see their happiness in a higher position and a long lasting career. This craving of happiness gives the grads the strength to fight and eases the hard work invested. Another reason people crave happiness is that they want to feel integrated in today’s changing society. For many, happiness is a vital...
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...Pursuit of Happiness PSY/220 Chelsea Holloman October, 25, 2015 Erika Chomina Carter According to Baumgardner and Crother, the authors of the book Positive Psychology, the American emphasis on the pursuit of happiness is focused mainly upon each individual’s idea of happiness. Being happy, having a positive attitude, and feeling good about the self are central values in American culture. The pursuit of happiness is described in the Declaration of Independence as an inalienable right. In a society that offers abundant opportunities and considerable individual freedom, people are encouraged to make life choices based on what makes them happy and satisfied. What makes Americans happy is heavily influenced by their culture’s individualistic model of self. Consistent with the SWB conception, happiness in America is an individual’s subjective judgment about his or her own life. Happiness is both subjective and individualized, in that the basis of judgment reflects the person’s unique personal makeup and his or her own idiosyncratic criteria. (Baumgardner & Crother, 2009, p. 118.) Americans have what is referred to as an individualistic style of happiness. Although it is possible for groups of Americans to have similar interests, the goals that we set for ourselves that lead us to our happiness are unique to each individual, much like a fingerprint. We can have similar desires with different reasoning for them or different desires with similar reasoning for...
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...Mate Selection Criteria for Marital Success: Is It Possible? Steve Goatley Liberty University Abstract For decades researches have been attempting to indentify some key characteristics or personal qualities that could be formulated in such a way as to predict the probability of marital success between two parties. If indeed some formula could be implemented that would take into account what characteristics and/or personal qualities must be present for two people to enter into a marital agreement with a higher than average success rate; mate selection could then be narrowed down to parties that fit each others needs and effectually increasing the chances for marital success. Unfortunately, while there have been many advances in this area of research that may help potential mates understand each others needs for marital happiness, a solid formula to identify an optimal mate is still just a idea. Mate Selection Criteria for Marital Success: Is It Possible? To properly understand the question of whether or not it is possible to define criteria that can be used for the purposes of mate selection that would ultimately lead to marital success, one must first understand the term, “marital success.” In the chapter titled Marital Adjustment, McKinney describes marriage, “Marriage in its best form in civilized life is the culmination of romantic love and courtship; it is the sublimation of the more primitive sex impulses. It...
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...Pursuit of Happiness PSY/224 Happiness can be defined in many ways. Everyone has their own perspective of what happiness is and how to achieve the emotion. Textbook definitions of happiness suggests that happiness is state of well-being and is an intense feeling. To some people happiness is found in material things while another will feel the emotion for simply having good health. Is it possible for an individual’s culture to influence what he or she believes to bring happiness? The answer to this question is what makes the world fascinating and thought-provoking. When one’s specific desire is fulfilled, feelings of happiness flourish. Therefore, happiness is the ultimate goal in life for many people in today’s society because their life revolves around desire. The paradox of affluence can be seen throughout America. People are in despair between the material well-being perception of happiness and the psychological perception of happiness (Baumgardner & Crothers, 2009). That said, everyone’s interpretation of happiness varies. For example; the American culture is bombarded with technology that is continuously progressing and the emphasis on the way to achieve happiness in American culture is misguided. It is important to note that the way happiness is portrayed for example in the United States, the portrait of the perfect family, the perfect job, and no problems everybody looks happy; this would be a stereotype of what happiness looks like. From what I know, we’re...
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...Bentham’s Utilitarianism Utilitarianism is primarily based on the principle of utility as outlined by Jeremy Bentham. Jeremy Bentham believed that ‘nature placed mankind under the governance of two sovereign masters, pain and pleasure. The principle of utility holds that actions are right in proportion to the degree of happiness they produce and wrong in proportion to degree of pain they produce. The principle of utility defines ‘good’ as happiness or pleasure and the goal of a moral action is the greatest happiness for the greatest number. Utilitarianism is a teleological theory meaning that final causes exist in nature. So the rightness of an action is determined by its consequences and not by the motive. So if the consequences are good then the motivation, even if it is negative is not even considered. The principle of utilitarianism is usually expressed as ‘the greatest happiness for the greatest number.’ The form developed by Bentham is commonly applied to each individual situation. Bentham’s form is better know as Act Utilitarianism. He believed that pleasure and pain identified what we should and shouldn’t do. He also claimed that the quantity of pleasure/happiness for the greatest number of people, therefore he devised the ‘Hedonic Calculus’ this considered seven principles, each of which could be given a numerical score. The key to utilitarianism is to consider the consequences of a particular action rather than just saying that an action is intrinsically wrong in and of itself...
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...Bentham and was adopted by John Stuart Mill, whose father was an associate of Jeremy Bentham. Utilitarianism is an ethical theory holding that the proper course of action is the one that maximizes the overall happiness or pleasure for all the people involved, by whatever means necessary. The moral worth of an action is determined only by its resulting outcome; therefore utilitarianism is only concerned with consequences and not with intentions of an action. Both philosophers believed that a morally good action will bring the greatest pleasure or happiness, and an immoral action will be the one that produces more pain. Therefore, everything we do and ought to do is driven by the pursuit of pleasure and avoidance of pain. The difference between the two philosophers was that Bentham believed that only the quantity of pleasure matters, whereas Mills argues that the quality of the pleasure matters more. Both, Mill and Bentham had very similar view on Utilitarianism, but yet Mill’s was distinguished from Bentham’s. Bentham was more concerned with the amount of pleasure that is generated from an action. He did not consider that some pleasures are higher and some lower. Because of that he was able to quantify the amount of pleasure or pain according to a single set of criteria. On the other hand, Mill believed that the quality of the pleasure matters more and that all pleasures cannot be so simply quantified. The following case needs the principles of utilitarianisms applied...
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...University of Phoenix Material EthicsGame Simulation Worksheet Student Name: _________________________ Facilitator: _________________________ Complete the interactive Ethics Game simulation, located on the course page on the University of Phoenix Student Web site for Week Three. You will be able to go through the simulation only one time, so please use this worksheet to take notes. The simulation will use the following decision model with the indicated critical decision points. You will want to take notes about your decisions and/or make a copy of the screen when you complete the work to assure that you have the information needed to write your reflection at the end of the simulation. |The Case of Fair Warning | |Step 1: |What is the issue? |Screen | |Be Attentive | |4 | | |Your notes: | | | | | | | | ...
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