Transcript What has intrinsic value?

Is it OK to inflict
pain on someone
else?
What if it is a small
amount of pain to
prevent a great deal of
suffering?
o
Ethical theory that judges
the moral rightness or
wrongness of an act
according to the
desirability of its
consequences
Two questions
must be asked
What has
intrinsic value?
Who should
receive this
value?
Intrinsic Value:
Value that is good
or desirable in
itself
Instrumental
Value: Value is
judged in terms of
achievement of
other ends
 People
should
always act to
promote
their own
self interest

Note -- egoism
should not be
confused with
being an
egotist-- a self
centered person
with an inflated
ego
What has intrinsic
value?
Self Interest
(Happiness)
Who should
receive this value?
Me

Hedonism: Moral
rightness of an actions
depends upon how
much pleasure or pain
it produces.
Not concerned with
gratifying immediate
desires
Concerned with
promoting our
objective (long term)
self interest
What does it mean to act in your self
interest?
Pursue those ends that will contribute
to your personal happiness
Maximize our own good an well being
“Love and friendship are profoundly
personal, selfish values…. One gains
a profoundly personal, selfish joy
from the mere existence of the
person one loves. It is one’s own
personal, selfish happiness that one
seeks, earns and derives from love”
How would an ethical egoist justify
the following?
Putting your life at risk to save a loved
one.
Giving money to a worthy charity
Helping your neighbor move
What has intrinsic
value?
Pleasure
(Happiness)
Who should
receive this value?
The greatest
number of people
Ethical theory that maintains
that the morally right act is
the one that promotes the
greatest good for the greatest
number of people

Jeremy Bentham
(1748-1842)

John Stuart Mill (18061873)
A traffic light should be installed at the
intersection to prevent accidents
The person who stole your money must
be punished to deter future crime
All citizens will be required to pay
income tax
The speed limit on highways should be
65 mph

Act-utilitarianism:
affirms that the
right action is the
one that directly
produces the best
balance of
happiness over
unhappiness for all
concerned

Rule-utilitarianism:
says that the morally
right action is the one
that, if followed as a
general rule, would
produce the greatest
overall good, all
instances and
everyone considered
What has intrinsic value?
Is pleasure or happiness the ultimate goal in
life?
Who should receive this value?
Can we justify seemingly immoral acts on
utilitarian grounds?