Ethics & Good Living
Answer all of the following (A-B):
Living Well: Complete the following chart (80 points)
View Give me one example of something that merely contributes (instrumentally) to living well on this view Give me one example of something that would constitute or make up living well on this view
Mill’s Hedonism Finding a good book you enjoy The pleasure of reading a good book
Attitudinal Hedonism The action of treating others around you well so that you don’t have to experience the pain of their distress later Enjoying the time you spend with others
Success Theory Buying video games Playing video games
Objective List Theory The action of preparing for an exam so that you will learn and get credit for the course and, ultimately, acquire education Passing with a high score on the exam
Bradford’s Achievementism The action of enrolling in college so that you can achieve a degree Successfully completing your college degree
Wolf’s View of Meaning Enrolling in college and gathering study material Being actively engaged in your college education.
Nietzsche’s View Practicing speaking a foreign language so as to acquire greater ability to speak it Having conversations with foreigners in their native language
Classical Account of the Good of Friendship Meeting interesting people so that you might be able to establish a friendship Becoming a more understanding person of others’ feeling through coming to know and care about your friend
Nehamas’ Account of the Good of Friendship Meeting interesting people so that you might be able to establish a friendship Getting to know who you and your friend really are Good Life (120 points, ~750 words)
Imagine you have a nephew or niece. Of course, you want their life to go as well as possible. Describe some specific features, events, or accomplishments you would hope for them to have in their life.
Choose one objective (or hybrid) and one subjective view of the good life that we’ve discussed and explain thoroughly how each would judge the life you described.
Choose what you take to be the best pessimistic argument from those we discussed (from Seneca, Pascal, Schopenhauer, or Kraut) and do the following:
Present the argument;
Explain why it poses an obstacle to your niece/nephew realizing the good life you described in B.1;
Is it possible to overcome this obstacle (B.3.a)? Explain how it is or why it isn’t.
