PHI 1103 Exam #4 Review

Intrinsic Value

Something valuable for its own sake (e.g. pleasure).

Instrumental Value

Something valuable because it leads to something else (e.g. money).

Hedonism

The view that pleasure is the only intrinsic good and pain is the only intrinsic bad.

Consequentialism

The view that moral rightness depends only on consequences, not intentions.

Utilitarian Calculations & Personal Interests

Everyone’s happiness counts equally.

You cannot give extra moral weight to yourself.

Problems for Act Utilitarianism

Can violate rights and justice.

Too demanding (requires extreme sacrifice).

Allows immoral actions if they maximize happiness.

Rule Utilitarianism

Actions are right if they follow rules that generally maximize happiness.

Hypothetical Imperative

conditional (“If you want X, do Y”)

Categorical Imperative

unconditional moral commands (apply to everyone).

Kant’s Universalization Test

An action is moral only if you could rationally will everyone to follow the same maxim.

Kant’s Humanity Formula

Always treat humans as ends in themselves, never merely as means.

Issues for Kant’s Theory

Too rigid (no exceptions).

Doesn’t weigh consequences.

Hard to apply in real-world cases.

Case of Fred

Values human pleasure over animal suffering.

Comparison of Fred and Factory-Farmed Meat

Causing intense suffering for minor pleasure is morally wrong.

Same structure.

Differences of Fred and Factory-Farmed Meat

Consumers are distanced from harm.

Harm is indirect and socially normalized.

But pleasure still comes at the cost of suffering.

Argument for Moral Status of Animals (Marginal Cases)

Some animals lack rationality.

If rationality mattered fully, those humans wouldn’t matter.

So rationality can’t be the sole basis of moral worth.

Moral Agents

Beings responsible for moral choices.

Moral Patients

Beings who can be harmed and deserve moral consideration.