Phil Notes

Test next thursday:

- up to employee rights

Notes: May 18, 2010

Markets: (ex of egoism leading to the consequences of totalitarianism)

- market place

- each person wants something from someone, and has something others wants.

- labor market

- you intend to work based on your self interest, but in the end it benefits the society by providing labor to it, why is that?

- adam smith: "invisible hand": brings the good to the society, only works for free market, due to the following problems.

- but, what about problem of externalities? (ex. polluting the environment)

- but what about monopoly? market exploition?

- Point: egoism has the consequense of totalitarianism.

Pg 17 - although global capitalism..... (critizism about adam smith)

Utilitarianism: (maximize utility: produce the greatest happiness for the most # people)

- maximise: calculus, utility: pleasure / pain, action = right if it maximizes utility

- which to choose in close calls? absenses of clearity, depends on the situation

- if equal, we looking further into the future

- The thesis that we ought to maximise utility, that is, an act is right if "leads to the best possibile of good consequences over bad consequenses"

- the morally best alternative is that which produces the greatest net utility, where utility is defined in terems of happiness or pleasure"

- "we ought to do that which produces the greatest amount og happiness for the greatest number of people."

- Act: leads to consequences (future outcomes)

- in the thinking process, you "choose" how to act, based on the consequences.

- Positive aspects: all count equally & scientific, however, the degree of pain counts

- 2 foundations: 1) psychological (human nature) & 2) Normative

1) grounded in human psychology (avoid causing pain)

2)

Deontological theory: there are things that are just not right to do.

1) fat man and cave: stuck at the mouth of the cave, can't get out, you and 2 other people are stuck...