Submitted by: Submitted by takkun299
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Date Submitted: 07/05/2012 09:19 AM
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...