MAKE YOUR CASE! Parfit's Thought Experiment by Olivia-Anne Primmer

op824 — 2023-03-19 03:44:26 UTC

Objective list theories hold that there are a variety of objectively valuable things that contribute to one’s well-being

Argue the core tenets of your theory in relation to Parfit's thought experiment and as a group discuss its strengths and weaknesses.

Are there any similarities between this theory and eudiamonia?

op824 — 2023-03-19 03:46:27 UTC

Parfit wants us to imagine that he has gotten us hooked on drugs, to which we now have an endless supply. Every morning we have an overwhelming desire to satisfy our cravings, and Parfit obliges us. Our desires are continuously, and habitually met. What if this was to continue for the rest of our lives?

It seems, at least, theoretically, he made our lives better. Parfit suggests that it is the cumulative effect of our desire to take the drug which outweighs our initial impulse not to take it.

In groups:

Is this a satisfying account of well-being? Why/why not? Is the greater good model inherently problematic?

op824 — 2023-03-19 03:48:30 UTC

What if we were already born addicted to this powerful drug.

We would not know that there are objective goals that are more valuable.

In this situation, we do not have the luxury of informed choice (which seems to be another important factor of well-being; knowing something is good for us, and thus pursuing it).

It is then plausible that we would allow this to happen. This is because we cannot conceive a better life than one clouded by drugs (i.e., akin to living inside Nozick’s experience machine with no knowledge of it).

Open class discussion:

What happens in our pursuit of well-being when we are fed faulty information? Are we still able to live a eudaimonic life?

Can you think of any further examples?

op824 — 2023-03-19 03:49:57 UTC

Hedonism is the view that well-being consists in, and only in, the balance of positive over negative conscious experiences

Argue the core tenets of your theory in relation to Parfit's thought experiment and as a group discuss its strengths and weaknesses.

op824 — 2023-03-19 03:51:01 UTC

Desire theories hold that well-being consists in the satisfaction (minus frustration) of desires or preferences

Argue the core tenets of your theory in relation to Parfit's thought experiment and as a group discuss its strengths and weaknesses.

How is desire-fulfilment distinctive from hedonism?

Learn More

op824 — 2023-03-19 12:29:17 UTC

op824 — 2023-03-21 00:43:53 UTC

_{Chappell, R.Y. and Meissner, D. (2023). Theories of Well-Being. In R.Y. Chappell, D. Meissner, and W. MacAskill (eds.),}_{An Introduction to Utilitarianism, <}_{https://www.utilitarianism.net/theories-of-wellbeing>, accessed 3/20/2023.}

Extra Credit! 😉

op824 — 2023-03-21 03:28:36 UTC

Now play devil’s advocate: What makes these views problematic?