Chapter 6&7

Question 0

What is ethical egoism

Answer 0

Everyone always does the acts that we best serve his or her own self interest - have to do

Question 1

What is psychological egoism

Answer 1

Always do the act we perceive to be in our own best self interest -

Question 2

What is the main criticism of the argument from satisfaction

Answer 2

We don’t always consciously seek out satisfaction when we act

Question 3

Paradox of hedonism

Answer 3

We all want to be happy, but don’t want happiness if it costs a pice to the exclusion of certain other values

Question 4

The argument for self deception

Answer 4

We deceive ourselves, but we can look deep enough in ourselves and see our true intentions

Question 5

Altruism

Answer 5

Unselfish regard or concern for others

Contrasted to egoism

Question 6

Hobbes- what forces us into chaos? What gets us out?

Answer 6

Selfishness forces us into it but selfishness forces us to solve problems through mutually agreed on moral codes

Question 7

Criticism of Hobbes?

Answer 7

Rests too heavily on psychological egoism

Question 8

Arguments against ethical egoism :

Inconsistent outcomes

Answer 8

Must be universal, must universalize own desire, but prescribe to others desire, therefore “said” nothing

Question 9

Against ethical egoism:

Publicity

Answer 9

Can’t advertise without harming progress of your own project

Question 10

Against ethical egoism:

Paradox of ethical egoism

Answer 10

Fails to meet necessary condition of morality

Question 11

Counterintuitive consequences

Answer 11

Absolute moral system that demands egoistic behavior

Question 12

Future generations

Answer 12

Not doing to preserve resources for future generations

Question 13

Sociobiology

Answer 13

Social structures and behavioral patterns incline morality. Have a biological base explained by the evolutionary theory

Question 14

Teleological ethics

Answer 14

Value the outcome of the act

Question 15

Hedonic calculus

Answer 15

Quantity score for any pleasure or pain, 7 aspects- intensity duration certainty helpfulness fruitfulness purity extent

Question 16

Eudaimonistic utilitarianism

Answer 16

Higher order pleasures, intellectual

Question 17

Problems with Benthams theory

Answer 17

Too simplistic, more than pleasure

Too complicated, the calculus

Question 18

Act utilitarianism

Answer 18

Act right if it promotes the the greatest good

Question 19

Problems with act utilitarianism

Answer 19

Can’t do the necessary calculations to determine the correct outcome of the act

Question 20

Rule utilitarianism

Answer 20

Act is right if it required by a rule, greater utility for society

Question 21

Strengths of utilitarianism

Answer 21

Single principle- absolute
Substance of morality
Addresses posterity (preserve for the future)

Question 22

Problems with utilitarianism

Answer 22

Problem formulating greatest amount of good for greatest number of people