PHIL 320A Lecture 8: PHIL-320A,University of Arizona,TextbookReadings(p8)
30 Aug 2018
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ight if they are coming form a “wrong” man, Ut does not at all focus on other characters of
man
- response: misconstrues understanding of right and wrong, this is not a complaint against UT,
but against any standard of morality at all, there is nothing in UT inconsistent with the fact
that there are other things which interest us in persons besides the rightness or wrongness of
an action
- utilitarians are quite aware there are other desirable qualities besides virtue, they are also
aware a right action does not always indicate a virtuoso character
- best proof of good character in the long run is good actions
- a doctrine which brings prominently forward the interest that mankind have the repression and
prevention of conduct which violates moral law will not be inferior to any other theories, but
this raises the question “What does violate the moral law?”
- objection — UT is a godless doctrine
- response: this objection can be interpreted in many ways, we need a doctrine of ethics
carefully followed out to interpret the will of God
- objection — UT is labeled as immoral because it is expedient in the sense that it is opposed to
the right (brings about contradictory actions of what is actually right)
- top of p. 338 response: the violation of a rule for the present advantage acts as one’s worst
enemy, but it has its exceptions and the principle of utility is good for setting restrictions on
these exceptions
- objection — there is not time for calculating and weighing the effects of a line of conduct on
the general happiness
- response: there has been ample time, the whole past duration of the human species to learn
form experiences and tendencies of actions
- whatever we adopt as the fundamental principle of morality, we must also adopt/follow the
subordinate principles of it
- objection — utilitarians will use utility as an excuse to fulfill selfishness
- response: all doctrines recognize the fact of conflicting considerations, but they are overcome
practically with the intellect/virtue of the individual
Document Summary
Ight if they are coming form a wrong man, ut does not at all focus on other characters of man. Utilitarians are quite aware there are other desirable qualities besides virtue, they are also aware a right action does not always indicate a virtuoso character. Best proof of good character in the long run is good actions. Objection ut is a godless doctrine. Response: this objection can be interpreted in many ways, we need a doctrine of ethics carefully followed out to interpret the will of god. Objection ut is labeled as immoral because it is expedient in the sense that it is opposed to the right (brings about contradictory actions of what is actually right) Top of p. 338 response: the violation of a rule for the present advantage acts as one"s worst enemy, but it has its exceptions and the principle of utility is good for setting restrictions on these exceptions.
