PHI 1102 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Thought Experiment, Empirical Evidence, Empiricism
5 Apr 2016
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Document Summary
Motivation: simplify morality into an easily usable principle of action which will clarify what is most important about morality. Empiricist foundation (theory of knowledge that says we can only know things are real if we can prove them in a sense e. g. see, hear) Principle of utility (greatest happiness principle: actions are right in proportion as they tend to produce happiness (pleasure); wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness (pain) Consequentialist theory- only right or wrong because of results produced. Utilitarianism goal is to produce greatest possible happiness for society as a collective whole. Believed utility principle could be used as a formula to produce greatest sum total of happiness (quantitative units called utils according t criteria such as length, duration, intensity, certainty) Criticism: hedonism/utilitarianism do not take in account dignity, integrity, virtue, duty, justice, etc. Sought to expand bentham"s definition of happiness, said quality of happiness is also important.
