tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1905686568472747305.post6569319028153159932..comments2024-03-22T06:22:08.010+00:00Comments on Stephen Law: Handout on utilitarianism (for A Level Religious Studies etc.)Stephen Lawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02167317543994731177noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1905686568472747305.post-63000988006556773462013-12-12T19:38:30.434+00:002013-12-12T19:38:30.434+00:00In some ways Jack is correct as when you look at U...In some ways Jack is correct as when you look at Utility as simple binary.<br />But we all know that it aint, it is in various shades of gray.<br />Avoid Pain makes me Happy...BUT shots hurt, so avoid shots, but future disease hurts more, so avoid disease and accept temporary small pain-shots-and be happier!!!<br />It is that there are very few binaries in life everything is in shades of gray. Or morals are all relative...try to find one that isn't.L.Longnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1905686568472747305.post-39192440132461350582013-12-10T17:28:19.810+00:002013-12-10T17:28:19.810+00:00Consider Biological Utilitarianism:
I am persuaded...Consider Biological Utilitarianism:<br />I am persuaded that what we like and the activities that provide happiness and/or pleasure are biologically determined--the result of evolutionary processes--whether adaptive or not, whether currently helpful to most of us or not. Happiness and pleasure are, therefore, poor metrics for guiding a utilitarian approach to making choices. It seems that we must come to grips with the fuzzy, dangerous territory of judging choices as competing paths to human cultural development (evolution?). Utility in this context becomes a long-term proposition, justifying short-term pain, frustrating current desires and happiness. Social engineering, with its history of misuse, is back on the table, inescapable if we want progress for the species? Perhaps science and philosophy harnessed to democratic government is the best arbiter of utility. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02553618851847730909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1905686568472747305.post-91536920188730470772013-12-10T17:26:51.447+00:002013-12-10T17:26:51.447+00:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02553618851847730909noreply@blogger.com