Flashcards on Foundational Concepts in Ethics
Foundational Concepts in Ethics: Pain, Pleasure, Freedom & Dignity
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Value Theory
29 cards
Card 1
Question: What is psychological hedonism?
Answer: The thesis that pleasure is the only thing people actually desire for its own sake (a descriptive claim about motivation).
Card 2
Question: What is ethical hedonism?
Answer: The view that pleasure is the only thing that is intrinsically desirable for its own sake (an evaluative claim about value).
Card 3
Question: How do the terms “desired” and “desirable” differ in Value Theory?
Answer: “Desired” makes descriptive statements about what people seek; “desirable” makes evaluative claims about what ought to be sought or is intrinsically g
Card 4
Question: How does utilitarianism relate to ethical hedonism?
Answer: Utilitarianism (e.g., Bentham, Mill) identifies the good with maximizing pleasure and minimizing pain—promoting the greatest happiness for the greates
Card 5
Question: What empirical objection can be offered against psychological hedonism?
Answer: People sometimes pursue ends (e.g., theoretical truth) for their own sake, not for anticipated pleasure; claiming hidden hedonistic motives without in
Card 6
Question: Why can ethical hedonism be rejected using the example of astronomers?
Answer: Astronomers pursue truth as intrinsically valuable even if it produces no pleasurable state; the value of getting it right isn’t exhausted by any acco
Card 7
Question: Why is it inadequate to judge pleasure and pain in abstraction from their sources?
Answer: Because pleasure’s value depends on the activity that generates it; abstracting from sources would wrongly treat all pleasure as good and all pain as
Card 8
Question: What problem does the example of the uncaught rapist raise for ethical hedonism?
Answer: It shows some pleasures (e.g., a rapist’s delight) can be morally bad non-instrumentally; measuring and comparing subjective pleasures across persons
Card 9
Question: How is pleasure related to human activity according to the text?
Answer: Pleasure is often a concomitant, intrinsic aspect of engaging in worthwhile activities (not a detachable reward); it typically arises through doing so
Card 10
Question: Why can’t pleasure be placed on the same level as basic human goods?
Answer: Because pleasure’s worth depends on the quality and context of the activities that produce it; basic goods (like knowledge, friendship) are valuable i