Philosophy - Exam 2 (Barker)

Clifford's Rule (CR1)

It is always wrong, everywhere, for anyone, to believe anything socially significant upon insufficient evidence.

Clifford's Rule (CR2)

Every belief is socially significant.

Clifford's Rule (CR3)

Therefore, it is always wrong for anyone to believe anything upon insufficient evidence.

Genuine Options Argument (GO1)

If CR is true, then it is always wrong for anyone in a GO to make a choice.

Genuine Options Argument (GO2)

It is not always wrong for anyone in a GO to make a choice.

Genuine Options Argument (GO3)

Therefore, CR is false.

Defense of GO1 (1.1)

No one in a live option has insufficient evidence to make a choice.

Defense of GO1 (1.2)

Every GO is a live option.

Defense of GO1 (1.3)

Therefore, no one in a GO has sufficient evidence to make a choice.

Defense of GO1 (1.4)

Therefore, if CR is true, then it is always wrong for anyone in a GO to make a choice.

Death is Not Bad (NB1)

It is irrational for me to fear X only if X will be bad for me.

Death is Not Bad (NB2)

X will be good or bad for me only if I will be able to experience it.

Death is Not Bad (NB3)

I will not be able to experience being dead.

Death is Not Bad (NB4)

Therefore, being dead will not be good or bad for me. (2,3)

Death is Not Bad (NB5)

Therefore, it is not rational for me to fear being dead. (1,4)

Defense of NB3 (3.1)

I can experience X only if I exist when X happens.

Defense of NB3 (3.2)

I will not exist when I am dead.

Defense of NB3 (3.3)

Therefore, I will not be able to experience being dead.

Function Argument (FA1)

The good life is the life that excellently fulfills the characteristic human function.

Function Argument (FA2)

The characteristic human function is an activity involving reason.

Function Argument (FA3)

Therefore, the good life is a life of excellent action involving reason. (FA1,FA2)

Function Argument (FA4)

The life of excellent activity involving reason just is the life of moral virtue.

Function Argument (FA5)

Therefore, the good life is the life of moral virtue.

Defense of FA2 (2.1)

The characteristic human function is either biological life, or perceiving or "activity involving reason".

Defense of FA2 (2.2)

Biological life is not the characteristic human function.

Defense of FA2 (2.3)

Perceiving is not the characteristic human function.

Defense of FA2 (2.4)

Therefore, the characteristic human function is an activity involving reason.

Clifford's Rule

it is always wrong, everywhere, and for anyone, to believe anything upon insufficient evidence.

Socially significant belief

a belief capable of affecting the welfare of others.

Hypothesis

anything that may be proposed to our belief

Option

a decision/choice between two hypotheses

Live Option

a choice between two live hypotheses

Forced Option

an unavoidable choice between two hypotheses

Momentous Option

a unique choice of great personal significance

Psychological Egoism

all behaviors are motivated by self-interest

ROG-type situation

any situation in which the following two conditions are met:

(i) There are no rewards for moral behavior

and

(ii) There are no punishments for immoral behavior

Hedonism

the good life is the life of maximal net pleasure

Net pleasure

total pleasure minus total pain

Experience machine

a machine you plug into and experience anything you want.

Instrumental end/good

desirable only for the sake of other ends

Intrinsic end/good

desirable for its own sake

Final end/good

desirable for its own sake but not for the sake of anything else

Moral perfectionism

the good (eudaimonic) human life is the life of full moral virtue

Kind-Relativity Principle

the good life, existence, or way of being for a K is to excellently fulfill the characteristic K function

Moral virtue

a habit or disposition to:

(i) have the right feelings

and

(ii) act according to those feelings

Moral saint

a person whose every action is as morally good as possible