consequentialism in three easy steps

CONSEQUENTIALISM IN THREE EASY STEPS

PHI 2630

CONSEQUENTIALISM IN A NUTSHELL

MAXIMIZE THE AMOUNT OF GOODNESS IN THE WORLD

CONSEQUENTIALISM: STEP ONEWHERE SHOULD WE FOCUS?o RULESo DUTIESo ACTIONSo RESULTS

CONSEQUENTIALISM: STEP ONEWHERE SHOULD WE FOCUS?o RULESo DUTIESo ACTIONS RESULTS

We must look to

the future!

CONSEQUENTIALISM: STEP ONE• CONSEQUENTIALISM, FIRST AND FOREMOST, IS ABOUT PRODUCING THE BEST RESULTS.•MAXIMIZING THE BALANCE OF GOODNESS OVER BADNESS IN THE WORLD.

CONSEQUENTIALISM: STEP TWOWHAT IS VALUABLE? (WHAT SORT OF RESULTS, EXACTLY, DO WE WANT TO PROMOTE?)o AUTONOMYo RULE-FOLLOWINGo HAPPINESSo MORAL VIRTUE

CONSEQUENTIALISM: STEP TWOWHAT IS VALUABLE? (WHAT SORT OF RESULTS, EXACTLY, DO WE WANT TO PROMOTE?)o AUTONOMYo RULE-FOLLOWINGo HAPPINESSo MORAL VIRTUE

CONSEQUENTIALISM: STEP TWO• CONSEQUENTIALISTS ENDORSE HEDONISM• CONSEQUENTIALISM AIMS TO MAXIMIZE HAPPINESS (OR “WELL-BEING”) AND MINIMIZE PAIN AND SUFFERING•MAXIMIZE THE BALANCE OF PLEASURE OVER PAIN

CONSEQUENTIALISM: STEP THREEWHO COUNTS? WHOSE HAPPINESS SHOULD I PROMOTE?o ME, MYSELF, AND Io MYSELF AND MY LOVED ONESo EVERYONE AND EVERYTHINGo ZEUS

CONSEQUENTIALISM: STEP THREEWHO COUNTS? WHOSE HAPPINESS SHOULD I PROMOTE?o ME, MYSELF, AND Io EVERYONE AND EVERYTHINGo MYSELF AND MY LOVED ONESo ZEUS

CONSEQUENTIALISM: STEP THREE• CONSEQUENTIALISTS ENDORSE IMPARTIALITY• ALL SENTIENT BEINGS CAPABLE OF EXPERIENCING PLEASURE/PAIN AND HAPPINESS/SUFFERING COUNT EQUALLY• CANNOT PRIORITIZE THE HAPPINESS OF ME AND MY LOVED ONES

CONSEQUENTIALISM: STEP THREE

CONSEQUENTIALISM

FOCUS ON RESULTS(FUTURE ORIENTATION) HEDONISM IMPARTIALITY