Moral Philosophy Flashcards
What do higher pleasures satisfy
The mind
What do lower pleasures please
The body
What do lower pleasures do
They make the individual happy but the pleasure gained does nothing for the persons progressive nature
How. Oils you describe lower pleasures in 6 words?
Here today gone tomorrow
Examples of lower pleasures
Sexual intercourse, eating a pizza, getting a new car
How would you define higher pleasures?
They are progressive, they tend to be more long term, continuous and gradual
Examples of higher pleasures
Having a child, getting an education, religion, solving a complex maths problem
What do you do in act utilitarianism?
Apply to specific case, deduce general rule
What should be applied to every case in act utilitarianism
Hedonic calculus
What is the one rule in act utilitarianism
To seek the greatest happiness for the greatest number in all decisions
Strengths of act utilitarianism
~there are no necessary moral rules except greatest happiness for the greatest number
~it is flexible and allows moral rules to change from age to age and from situation to situation
Weaknesses of act utilitarianism
~not all pleasures are equal
~an act can be made right or wrong by other things than just pain and pleasure
~exploitation of minorities
~the principle of utility isn’t the only thing of value in decisions
~we need general rules for a good moral theory
In hares prescriptivism, what does x is morally right mean?
It is an imperative to ‘do x’ to meet the standards for being a good person. It guides people’s choices
