Hedonism, False Hedonism, False Pleasures and the Role of Pleasures and the Role of

Intuitions in Assessing Intuitions in Assessing Theories of Well-BeingTheories of Well-Being

Dan TurtonDan TurtonVictoria University of WellingtonVictoria University of Wellington

dan.turton@vuw.ac.nzdan.turton@vuw.ac.nz

PlanPlan

Hand-waving & definitionsHand-waving & definitions

My overall projectMy overall project

The problem: the objection from false The problem: the objection from false pleasurespleasures

The solution: a better understanding of The solution: a better understanding of moral intuitions and what they are useful formoral intuitions and what they are useful for

The result: hedonism about well-being is The result: hedonism about well-being is plausibleplausible

Scope (hand-waving)Scope (hand-waving)

Hedonism, not:Hedonism, not:– Psychological hedonismPsychological hedonism– Folk hedonismFolk hedonism– Rather: pleasure (enjoyment) is the only thing of Rather: pleasure (enjoyment) is the only thing of

intrinsic value for an individualintrinsic value for an individual

Well-being, not:Well-being, not:– The aesthetically, exemplary, or morally good lifeThe aesthetically, exemplary, or morally good life– Rather: the life that is good for the subject of that lifeRather: the life that is good for the subject of that life– intrinsic value for an individualintrinsic value for an individual

Hedonism about well-being claims that the good Hedonism about well-being claims that the good life for the one living it contains lots of enjoyment life for the one living it contains lots of enjoyment and very little sufferingand very little suffering

Reviving HedonismReviving Hedonism

History of unpopularity (philosophical death)History of unpopularity (philosophical death)– Profligate image, Moore, Nozick & Profligate image, Moore, Nozick &

Nagel/KaganNagel/Kagan– Current teaching of moral philosophyCurrent teaching of moral philosophy

Aim is for plausibility (equal with p-s & list)Aim is for plausibility (equal with p-s & list)General strategyGeneral strategy– Assume plausibilityAssume plausibility– Refute objectionsRefute objections– (Re-) assume plausibility(Re-) assume plausibility

False PleasuresFalse PleasuresFalse pleasure = pleasure based on something False pleasure = pleasure based on something that isn’t truethat isn’t true

1) Hedonism states that pleasure is the only 1) Hedonism states that pleasure is the only thing of intrinsic valuething of intrinsic value2) Pleasure based on truth is more valuable than 2) Pleasure based on truth is more valuable than pleasure based on falsitypleasure based on falsity3) Therefore, something other than pleasure is 3) Therefore, something other than pleasure is intrinsically valuableintrinsically valuable4) Therefore, hedonism is false4) Therefore, hedonism is false

Evidence for 2 comes via thought experimentsEvidence for 2 comes via thought experiments

Deceived BusinessmanDeceived Businessman

Nagel, Kagan, Rachels etc.Nagel, Kagan, Rachels etc.

Fred and Ted experience their lives as equally Fred and Ted experience their lives as equally full of enjoyment and free of sufferingfull of enjoyment and free of suffering

But Fred is deceived!But Fred is deceived!

Try to imagine that Fred never finds out about itTry to imagine that Fred never finds out about it

Who has the better life?Who has the better life?

Even some hedonists give up the fight hereEven some hedonists give up the fight here

Why?Why?

Truth must have valueTruth must have value

Intuition vs ReasonIntuition vs Reason

Reason says that their lives Reason says that their lives areare of equal of equal value (if hedonism is believed apriori)value (if hedonism is believed apriori)Intuition says Ted’s life is more valuableIntuition says Ted’s life is more valuableAnd intuition challenges hedonistic And intuition challenges hedonistic reasoning:reasoning:– ‘‘If hedonism leads to that conclusion, then it’s If hedonism leads to that conclusion, then it’s

a ridiculous theory of well-being!’a ridiculous theory of well-being!’

But reason also challenges intuition:But reason also challenges intuition:– How can something that Fred never How can something that Fred never

experiences affect his well-being?experiences affect his well-being?

Assessing Theories of Well-BeingAssessing Theories of Well-Being

The old way (Griffin, Kagan etc)The old way (Griffin, Kagan etc)– i) Produce intuitively pleasing results in most i) Produce intuitively pleasing results in most

casescases– ii) Have a compelling rationaleii) Have a compelling rationale– iii) Be meta-ethically and -physically consistentiii) Be meta-ethically and -physically consistent– iv) Be functionaliv) Be functional

Certainly most of discussion around i and iiCertainly most of discussion around i and iiBecause i trumps ii, hedonism is seen as Because i trumps ii, hedonism is seen as implausibleimplausible

Stalemate?Stalemate?Some will say the intuition arises because truth is Some will say the intuition arises because truth is valuable valuable – (since that’s the only difference)(since that’s the only difference)– And insist that truth is, therefore, valuable regardless of And insist that truth is, therefore, valuable regardless of

if we experience itif we experience it

I think the intuition is probably about:I think the intuition is probably about:– The risk of finding out, The risk of finding out, – An ingrained dislike of deception and An ingrained dislike of deception and – The worry that Fred will get less loveThe worry that Fred will get less love– None of which should be relevant!None of which should be relevant!

Can hedonists give good reason to believe that Can hedonists give good reason to believe that the intuition is not about the intrinsic value of the intuition is not about the intrinsic value of truth? Yes, but…truth? Yes, but…

Intuitions (W&A 2007)Intuitions (W&A 2007)

But should intuitions be allowed to trump But should intuitions be allowed to trump reason anyway?reason anyway?

An intuition is a valenced feeling about An intuition is a valenced feeling about somethingsomething

Formed by fast unconscious assimilation of Formed by fast unconscious assimilation of large amounts of datalarge amounts of data

Similarities are processed and potential Similarities are processed and potential outcomes are simulatedoutcomes are simulated

Intuitions are not introspectibleIntuitions are not introspectible

Intuitions about Moral TheoriesIntuitions about Moral Theories

Woodward & Allman (2007) say they are Woodward & Allman (2007) say they are often misused but can be usefuloften misused but can be useful

Don’t use intuitionsDon’t use intuitions– For unrealistic thought experimentsFor unrealistic thought experiments

Do use intuitionsDo use intuitions– When you have a lot of relevant experience When you have a lot of relevant experience – In complex casesIn complex cases

A Limited Role for Intuitions in A Limited Role for Intuitions in Moral TheoryMoral Theory

Based on Woodward and Allman’s work:Based on Woodward and Allman’s work:

The Adjusted old method for assessing The Adjusted old method for assessing theories of well-being:theories of well-being:– i) Produce intuitively pleasing results i) Produce intuitively pleasing results in in

realistic casesrealistic cases– ii) Have a compelling rationaleii) Have a compelling rationale– iii) Be meta-ethically and -physically iii) Be meta-ethically and -physically

consistentconsistent– iv) Be functionaliv) Be functional

More Implications from W&A’s More Implications from W&A’s Work:Work:

1) Intuitions do not always track features 1) Intuitions do not always track features that are relevant to a situationthat are relevant to a situation

2) There is no way to be sure what specific 2) There is no way to be sure what specific features an intuition is trackingfeatures an intuition is tracking– No introspectionNo introspection– No reconstructionNo reconstruction

3) Therefore, it is 3) Therefore, it is not possible to knownot possible to know if if an intuition is tracking features that are an intuition is tracking features that are relevant to the situationrelevant to the situation

Intuitions in Theories of Intuitions in Theories of Well-BeingWell-Being

Extra reasons that intuitions Extra reasons that intuitions aboutabout well-well-beingbeing might not track relevant features: might not track relevant features:– Self-serving/endowment/familiarity bias Self-serving/endowment/familiarity bias

(Bentham, Singer, Unger, Gilbert)(Bentham, Singer, Unger, Gilbert)We perceive the world and our position in it with biasWe perceive the world and our position in it with bias

Our perceptions shape our memoriesOur perceptions shape our memories

Therefore, our memories and perceptions are biasedTherefore, our memories and perceptions are biased

Our intuitions are based on our perceptions and Our intuitions are based on our perceptions and memoriesmemories

Therefore, our intuitions are biased towards more Therefore, our intuitions are biased towards more familiar types of well-beingfamiliar types of well-being

A A VeryVery Limited Role for Intuitions in Limited Role for Intuitions in Theories of Theories of Well-BeingWell-Being

1) It’s not possible to know if intuitions about 1) It’s not possible to know if intuitions about well-being are tracking relevant featureswell-being are tracking relevant features

2) Our intuitions about well-being are likely 2) Our intuitions about well-being are likely to be biasedto be biased

3) Therefore, if we have another (more trust-3) Therefore, if we have another (more trust-worthy) method of assessing theories of worthy) method of assessing theories of well-being, then we should use itwell-being, then we should use it

Especially in unrealistic thought experimentsEspecially in unrealistic thought experiments

A New Method for Assessing A New Method for Assessing Theories of Well-BeingTheories of Well-Being

A good theory of well-being should:A good theory of well-being should:– i) Have a compelling rationalei) Have a compelling rationale

Internal consistencyInternal consistency

Rationally compellingRationally compelling

Intuitive*Intuitive*

– ii) Be meta-ethically and -physically consistentii) Be meta-ethically and -physically consistent– iii) Be functionaliii) Be functional

Be useful for policy-makingBe useful for policy-making

Agree with widespread intuition*Agree with widespread intuition*

Applying the New Assessment Applying the New Assessment SchemeScheme

The deceived businessman asks us to imagine The deceived businessman asks us to imagine the impossiblethe impossible– So, we should be very skeptical about any intuitions it So, we should be very skeptical about any intuitions it

raisesraises

It is impossible for anti-hedonists to introspect It is impossible for anti-hedonists to introspect that their intuition is caused by the value of truththat their intuition is caused by the value of truth– Indeed, it is impossible to know whether the intuition Indeed, it is impossible to know whether the intuition

in this case has in this case has anythinganything to do with the value of truth to do with the value of truth

Furthermore, there is reason to believe that the Furthermore, there is reason to believe that the intuition is not based on the intuition is not based on the intrinsicintrinsic value of value of truthtruthThere is also a compelling reason to believe that There is also a compelling reason to believe that Ted and Fred have equally valuable livesTed and Fred have equally valuable lives

The Verdict on the Deceived The Verdict on the Deceived BusinessmanBusinessman

Hedonists can stand firm on their compelling Hedonists can stand firm on their compelling reason (how can something that you don’t reason (how can something that you don’t experience affect your life?) and…experience affect your life?) and…

The anti-hedonists’ reason (truth) is only The anti-hedonists’ reason (truth) is only supported by a flimsy intuition that cannot prove supported by a flimsy intuition that cannot prove its relevanceits relevance

Therefore, the deceived businessman objection Therefore, the deceived businessman objection fails to provide good evidence for thinking that fails to provide good evidence for thinking that something other than pleasure intrinsically something other than pleasure intrinsically increases well-beingincreases well-being

Implications for HedonismImplications for Hedonism

If the current method of assessing theories of If the current method of assessing theories of well-being is revised either moderately or well-being is revised either moderately or radically, then:radically, then:– The deceived businessman objection failsThe deceived businessman objection fails– The objection from false pleasures failsThe objection from false pleasures fails– Hedonism about well-being will be seen as plausible Hedonism about well-being will be seen as plausible

(revived!)(revived!)

And, because hedonism may soon prove to And, because hedonism may soon prove to have a sound scientific basis:have a sound scientific basis:– Hedonism might even be seen as more plausible than Hedonism might even be seen as more plausible than

other theories about well-being (very revived!!)other theories about well-being (very revived!!)