Intrinsic good and instrumental good

Intrinsic Good, Intrinsic Good, Instrumental Good, Instrumental Good, and the Values of and the Values of

C. Montgomery C. Montgomery BurnsBurns

It’s Excellent, but is it It’s Excellent, but is it Good?Good?

Good – something or Good – something or someone with valuesomeone with value

Even a reprehensible Even a reprehensible act can represent a act can represent a “good” for someone “good” for someone involvedinvolved

Mr. Burns routinely Mr. Burns routinely values “bad” things, values “bad” things, but he considers them but he considers them “good”.“good”.

DefinitionsDefinitions

What is Instrumental What is Instrumental Good?Good?

What is Intrinsic Good?What is Intrinsic Good?

Instrumental GoodInstrumental Good

A good is instrumental if A good is instrumental if it only has value as a it only has value as a means to another good.means to another good.

Intrinsic GoodIntrinsic Good

A thing is said to be intrinsically A thing is said to be intrinsically good if it is good by itself.good if it is good by itself.

An intrinsic good is not required to An intrinsic good is not required to lead to anything else, create a lead to anything else, create a certain result, or produce a reward.certain result, or produce a reward.

Some things that may be Some things that may be considered intrinsic goods are considered intrinsic goods are happiness, truth, and life.happiness, truth, and life.

Do you think these Do you think these things are intrinsically things are intrinsically good, instrumentally good, instrumentally

good, both, or neither?good, both, or neither?1.1. FriendshipFriendship2.2. HealthHealth3.3. BeautyBeauty4.4. Romantic LoveRomantic Love5.5. WisdomWisdom

CombinationsCombinations

Can something be intrinsically Can something be intrinsically bad, but instrumentally good?bad, but instrumentally good?

CombinationsCombinations

Can something be intrinsically bad, Can something be intrinsically bad, but instrumentally good?but instrumentally good?

Definitely! Here are some Definitely! Here are some examples:examples:Cheating to win a contestCheating to win a contestKilling in self-defenseKilling in self-defenseLying about your qualifications to Lying about your qualifications to

get a jobget a job

ComplicationsComplications

Instrumental goods only have value because Instrumental goods only have value because they eventually lead to an intrinsic good.they eventually lead to an intrinsic good.

Without the final good in the chain, no series Without the final good in the chain, no series of instrumental goods will ever be satisfactory.of instrumental goods will ever be satisfactory.

More CombinationsMore Combinations

Can you have something that is both Can you have something that is both intrinsically good, but instrumentally intrinsically good, but instrumentally bad?bad?



Certainly! Here are some examples:Certainly! Here are some examples: Using heroin or other drugsUsing heroin or other drugs Gluttony and slothGluttony and sloth



Certainly! Here are some examples:Certainly! Here are some examples: Using heroin or other drugsUsing heroin or other drugs Gluttony and slothGluttony and sloth

But are these examples truly intrinsically But are these examples truly intrinsically good? Can they be intrinsically good if good? Can they be intrinsically good if they have some other result?they have some other result?

The End of the The End of the CombinationsCombinations

We can all think of things which We can all think of things which are both intrinsically bad are both intrinsically bad andand instrumentally bad, but are instrumentally bad, but are there things which are there things which are intrinsically good and intrinsically good and instrumentally good?instrumentally good?

The End of the The End of the CombinationsCombinations

We can all think of things which are We can all think of things which are both intrinsically bad both intrinsically bad andand instrumentally instrumentally bad, but are there things which are bad, but are there things which are intrinsically good and instrumentally intrinsically good and instrumentally good?good?

I’m actually asking you this time. Are I’m actually asking you this time. Are there any ideas? Is it even possible for there any ideas? Is it even possible for something to be good in and of itself, something to be good in and of itself, and to also have a reward or desired and to also have a reward or desired result attached?result attached?

Can Mr. Burns be truly Can Mr. Burns be truly happy?happy?

Here are some quotes that suggest he cannot:Here are some quotes that suggest he cannot: ““One dollar for eternal happiness? … I'd be One dollar for eternal happiness? … I'd be

happier with the dollar.”happier with the dollar.” Homer: “You know Mr. Burns, you're the Homer: “You know Mr. Burns, you're the

richest guy I know - way richer than Lenny.”richest guy I know - way richer than Lenny.”Mr. Burns: “Yes, but I'd trade it all for a Mr. Burns: “Yes, but I'd trade it all for a little more.”little more.”

““What good is money if it can't inspire What good is money if it can't inspire terror in your fellow man?”terror in your fellow man?”


More quotes:More quotes: ““Smithers had thwarted my earlier Smithers had thwarted my earlier

attempt to take candy from a baby, but attempt to take candy from a baby, but with him out of the picture, I was free to with him out of the picture, I was free to wallow in my own crapulence.”wallow in my own crapulence.”

Mr. Burns: “Well, son, delighted to have Mr. Burns: “Well, son, delighted to have met you. It's good to know that... there's met you. It's good to know that... there's another kidney out there for me.” another kidney out there for me.”

Larry: “You got it, Pop. Just let me run a Larry: “You got it, Pop. Just let me run a few pints through it first.” few pints through it first.”

““We’re slightly richer!”We’re slightly richer!”


What do you think? Will What do you think? Will Mr. Burns find true Mr. Burns find true (intrinsic) happiness, or (intrinsic) happiness, or will he only find will he only find instrumental goods?instrumental goods?

SourcesSources

Intrinsic and Instrumental GoodIntrinsic and Instrumental Good Reasoning about ValuesReasoning about Values Intrinsic ValueIntrinsic Value The Simpsons and Philosophy – The The Simpsons and Philosophy – The

D’oh! of HomerD’oh! of Homer Quotes from snpp.comQuotes from snpp.com Sounds from Serious Burns, Kaedrin, Sounds from Serious Burns, Kaedrin,

A Burns for All SeasonsA Burns for All Seasons

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Intrinsic good and instrumental good