CONSEQUENTIALISM IN THREE EASY STEPS
PHI 2630
CONSEQUENTIALISM IN A NUTSHELL
MAXIMIZE THE AMOUNT OF GOODNESS IN THE WORLD
CONSEQUENTIALISM: STEP ONEWHERE SHOULD WE FOCUS?o RULESo DUTIESo ACTIONSo RESULTS
CONSEQUENTIALISM: STEP ONEWHERE SHOULD WE FOCUS?o RULESo DUTIESo ACTIONS RESULTS
We must look to
the future!
CONSEQUENTIALISM: STEP ONE• CONSEQUENTIALISM, FIRST AND FOREMOST, IS ABOUT PRODUCING THE BEST RESULTS.•MAXIMIZING THE BALANCE OF GOODNESS OVER BADNESS IN THE WORLD.
CONSEQUENTIALISM: STEP TWOWHAT IS VALUABLE? (WHAT SORT OF RESULTS, EXACTLY, DO WE WANT TO PROMOTE?)o AUTONOMYo RULE-FOLLOWINGo HAPPINESSo MORAL VIRTUE
CONSEQUENTIALISM: STEP TWOWHAT IS VALUABLE? (WHAT SORT OF RESULTS, EXACTLY, DO WE WANT TO PROMOTE?)o AUTONOMYo RULE-FOLLOWINGo HAPPINESSo MORAL VIRTUE
CONSEQUENTIALISM: STEP TWO• CONSEQUENTIALISTS ENDORSE HEDONISM• CONSEQUENTIALISM AIMS TO MAXIMIZE HAPPINESS (OR “WELL-BEING”) AND MINIMIZE PAIN AND SUFFERING•MAXIMIZE THE BALANCE OF PLEASURE OVER PAIN
CONSEQUENTIALISM: STEP THREEWHO COUNTS? WHOSE HAPPINESS SHOULD I PROMOTE?o ME, MYSELF, AND Io MYSELF AND MY LOVED ONESo EVERYONE AND EVERYTHINGo ZEUS
CONSEQUENTIALISM: STEP THREEWHO COUNTS? WHOSE HAPPINESS SHOULD I PROMOTE?o ME, MYSELF, AND Io EVERYONE AND EVERYTHINGo MYSELF AND MY LOVED ONESo ZEUS
CONSEQUENTIALISM: STEP THREE• CONSEQUENTIALISTS ENDORSE IMPARTIALITY• ALL SENTIENT BEINGS CAPABLE OF EXPERIENCING PLEASURE/PAIN AND HAPPINESS/SUFFERING COUNT EQUALLY• CANNOT PRIORITIZE THE HAPPINESS OF ME AND MY LOVED ONES
CONSEQUENTIALISM: STEP THREE
CONSEQUENTIALISM
FOCUS ON RESULTS(FUTURE ORIENTATION) HEDONISM IMPARTIALITY