PHIL 249 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Benefit Shortfall, Consequentialism
Document Summary
An action is right if and only if it maximizes the potential for a favorable outcome. (increases balance of good welfare) if an action causes good, the action is good. If it causes bad, the action is bad. Identify good/bad, determine options and evaluate, pick option which maximizes potential for favourable outcome. 100 sadists on an island should torture the one pilot because the net happiness brought to the sadists. P1: an action is right iff it maximizes the balance of pleasure. P2: if p1, then the sadists on sadist island should torture the pilot. C: so the sadists on sadist island should torture the pilot (absurd) P2: if pi, then i should kill the miserable person. C: so i should kill the miserable person . P2: if pi, then the judge should convict the innocent person. C: so the judge should convict the innocent person. P2: if p1, the right action is often undesirable.
