Desire-Satisfaction Theory

Question 1

What has prudential value according to desire-satisfaction theory?

Answer 1

if something satisfies your desires (or promotes their satisfaction), then it is good for you (has prudential value)

Question 2

What is the desire-satisfaction theory?

Answer 2

the only thing that intrinsically makes your life go well is the satisfaction of your desires

Question 3

What are some advantages of desire-satisfaction theory?

Answer 3

• it explains why there are many different ways to live a good life
• what is necessary for you to lead a good life depends on what you want
• it gives each of us personal authority over what makes our life go well (the theory doesn’t tell you what to desire)
• the emphasis on the full satisfaction of your desires rejects false happiness

Question 4

What are some disadvantages of desire-satisfaction theory?

Answer 4

• we sometimes get a pleasant surprise when something good happens to us though we did not have a pre-existing desire for this thing
• we can plausibly benefit others by acting against their desires
• sometimes, a desire is based on a false belief
• desires can be impoverished
• some people have very strange desires, where satisfying them would not improve their well-being