Download presentation
Presentation is loading. Please wait.
1
Introduction to Ethical Theory
Phil 240, Week 2, Lecture 3 SUM2013, M-F, 10:50-11:50, SAV136 Instructor: Ben Hole
2
Friends reference from yesterday: http://www. youtube. com/watch
Friends reference from yesterday: (psychological egoism) Psychological: “The view that all human actions are motivated by self-interest, and that altruism is impossible.” (RSL, G-6) Ethical: “there is one ultimate moral duty –to improve your own well-being as best you can.” (RSL, 104) Egoism Prisoner’s Dilemma: “A situation in which everyone involved would be better off by reducing his or her pursuit of self-interest.” (RSL, G-6)
3
Agenda Clicker Quiz Finish Hobbes Introduction to International Ethics
Hardin’s Tragedy of the Commons Agenda Thur: 4th of July Fri: finish Hardin; focus on criticism
4
Justice Reason The state The sovereign The social contract
The “fool” that Hobbes considers claims that there is no such thing as: Justice Reason The state The sovereign The social contract None of the above
5
According to Hobbes, the right of nature is:
an entitlement to the fruits of one’s labors. a claim not to be harmed by others. the right of the king to rule his subjects. a claim human nature has over the social contract. the liberty to use one’s powers to preserve one’s life. none of the above
6
Hobbes claims that the first law of nature is:
the golden rule seek peace, and follow it never treat another human being as a means to your ends always do what brings the greatest amount of good none of the above
7
The state of nature “In such condition, there is no place for industry; because the fruit thereof is uncertain: and consequently no culture of the earth; no navigation, nor use of the commodities that may be imported by sea; no commodious building; no instruments of moving, and removing, such things as require much force; no knowledge of the face of the earth; no account of time; no arts; no letters; no society; and which is worst of all, continual fear, and danger of violent death; and the life of man, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short” (240).
8
The Sovereign We are rationally required to leave the state of nature and submit to a coercive authority in order to adjudicate between conflicts of individual interests.
9
The right of nature Laws of nature
“The liberty each man hath, to use his own power, as he will himself, for the preservation of his own nature” (241). Laws of nature “A law of nature is a precept or general rule, found out by reason, by which a man is forbidden to do that, which is destructive of his life, or taketh away the means of preserving the same” (241). 9
10
Underwrite a stable system of social interaction between actual agents
Contractarianism Equality of Parties Descriptive Basis for Cooperation Mutual Advantage Role of Agreement Underwrite a stable system of social interaction between actual agents “The mutual transferring of rights, is that which men call CONTRACT … [PACT, or COVENANT]” (242).
11
Discussion One of the standard solutions to the collective action problem “The Prisoner’s Dilemma” is to appeal to some broader self interests. Does Hobbes successfully appeal to broader self interests to solve the collective action problem in the state of nature? Why or why not?
12
Hobbes & Justice Injustice is failure to perform a covenant.
Whatever is not unjust is just. Covenants are only meaningful if there is some coercive power to back them up. Thus, nothing can be just or unjust until a government is established with the power to enforce covenants. Until then, there is no such thing as property, or injustice.
13
What does the fool deny, and how does Hobbes argue against his position?
Reconstruct Hobbes’ argument in premise- conclusion form Criticize a premise The Fool’s Challenge
14
The Fool’s Challenge
15
Hobbes: The 5th Law of Nature
Discussion Question Is it at all surprising that we start with inherent self interest in the state of nature and end up with complaisance? Is it really in one’s self interest to “accommodate himself to the rest”? Why or why not? Explain. Hobbes: The 5th Law of Nature “A fifth law of nature is complaisance; that is to say, that every man strive to accommodate himself to the rest. For the understanding whereof we may consider that there is in men's aptness to society a diversity of nature, rising from their diversity of affections, not unlike to that we see in stones brought together for building of an edifice” (244)
16
Garrett Hardin’s "Lifeboat Ethics: the Case Against Helping the Poor"
Against complaisance Garrett Hardin’s "Lifeboat Ethics: the Case Against Helping the Poor"
17
The International State of Nature
17
18
Population and Hunger
19
Garrett Hardin on the Tragedy of the Commons and Resources
Garrett Hardin on the Tragedy of the Commons and Resources
20
Hardin, Tragedy of the Commons
Prisoner’s Dilemma Hardin, Tragedy of the Commons Appeal to broader self- interests … Appeal to some notion of reciprocity or fairness … Socialism Privatization How is the tragedy of the commons in the international realm of analysis resistant to standard solutions to Prisoner’s Dilemma?
Similar presentations
