🏷️ LIMITED TIME OFFER: GET 20% OFF GRADE+ YEARLY SUBSCRIPTION →
Log in
HomeTextbook Notes300,000CA170,000

PHIL 237 Chapter 1: Moral Theories

50 views5 pages
champagnegoat805
16 Jan 2012
School
McGill University
Department
Philosophy
Course
PHIL 237
Professor
Sarah Stroud

For unlimited access to Textbook Notes, a Class+ subscription is required.

Document Summary

Ethics is primarily divided into two main concepts: what is good, and what is right. Three resulting kinds of actions: obligatory actions actions one morally ought to do, optional/neutral actions actions that are not morally obligated, and which are not wrong, wrong actions actions one ought not to do. Things may have intrinsic (inherent) value, or extrinsic (or instrumental) value. Intrinsic goods may be further divided to three kinds: intrinsically good, intrinsically bad/evil, intrinsically value-neutral. Definition: general moral statements that specify conditions under which an action is right (or wrong) and something is intrinsically good (or bad). Principles dealing with action are principles of right conduct, and principles dealing with goodness are principles of value. Value-based moral theories take the concept of the good to be more basic than that of the right, and therefore define rightness of actions in terms of and consideration for intrinsic goodness.

Get access

Grade+20% off
$8 USD/m$10 USD/m
Billed $96 USD annually
Grade+
Homework Help
Study Guides
Textbook Solutions
Class Notes
Textbook Notes
Booster Class
40 Verified Answers
Class+
$8 USD/m
Billed $96 USD annually
Class+
Homework Help
Study Guides
Textbook Solutions
Class Notes
Textbook Notes
Booster Class
30 Verified Answers

Related Documents

PHIL 237
Final Exam
Study Guide
PHIL 237 Final: Phil 237_ Reading Notes
skyox664
PHIL 237
Final Exam
Study Guide
PHIL 237 Study Guide - Final Guide: Tom Regan, Consequentialism, Deontological Ethics
goldguinea-pig490
PHIL 237 Chapter Notes - Chapter 5: Categorical Imperative, Tomregan
amaranthtortoise531

Related Questions

Intrinsic value vs. Instrumental Value

Philosophy Question: Is wisdom (philosophy) something you value most, which you consider most vital to living a good life?

Is wisdom something mostly intrinsically valuable and so desired solely for its own sake? Or is wisdom also instrumentally valuable and so desired also for the sake of something else you desire/want? If so, what?

Instrumental Value

You value most things instrumentally, that is, as a means to some end. Usually, this is obvious and trivial. For instance, you value a washing machine that works—purely for its useful function, or instrumental value.

Intrinsic Value

There are two notions of intrinsic value. It can be:

  • Valuable in itself
  • Valued by someone for its own sake

If something has intrinsic value in the first sense, this means that the universe is somehow a better place for that thing existing or occurring.

Reference

Intrinsic vs. Instrumental Value A Basic Distinction in Moral Philosophy

 

Intrinsic value vs. Instrumental Value

Philosophy Question: Is wisdom (philosophy) something you value most, which you consider most vital to living a good life?

Is wisdom something mostly intrinsically valuable and so desired solely for its own sake? Or is wisdom also instrumentally valuable and so desired also for the sake of something else you desire/want? If so, what?

Instrumental Value

You value most things instrumentally, that is, as a means to some end. Usually, this is obvious and trivial. For instance, you value a washing machine that works—purely for its useful function, or instrumental value.

Intrinsic Value

There are two notions of intrinsic value. It can be:

  • Valuable in itself
  • Valued by someone for its own sake

If something has intrinsic value in the first sense, this means that the universe is somehow a better place for that thing to exist or occur.

Philosophy 

Reflection Question: What do you value?

I value vacations and playing video games. I put forward the idea these are valuable things to me. However, playing video games is only an instrumental value. In other words, young students play video games because they receive joy and satisfaction from playing video games. Do you agree?

Question 1: Is traveling the world (vacations abroad) desirable because it is instrumentally valuable, i.e., only valuable because it will help you achieve or acquire other things you desire? Is this because you think it is bad (unpleasant) in itself or just neutral (neither desirable nor undesirable)? Or is traveling the world also intrinsically valuable, i.e. valuable for its own sake? If so, why?

Question 2: Is playing video games (Xbox, Playstation, Nintendo Switch) desirable because it is instrumentally valuable, i.e., only valuable because it will help you achieve or acquire other things you desire? Is this because you think it is bad (unpleasant) in itself or just neutral (neither desirable nor undesirable)? Or is playing video games also intrinsically valuable, i.e. valuable for its own sake? If so, why?