values, self & knowledge
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Values, Self & Knowledge. An introduction to philosophy Spring 2013. The big picture. Meetings Topics Aims Constraints. Assessment Comprehension exercise, essay, exam, participation Admin details. Our meetings. 10 lectures 3 hours (!) 2 breaks Slides available after lecture - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Values, Self & KnowledgeAn introduction to philosophy
Spring 2013
The big picture❄ Meetings❄ Topics❄ Aims❄ Constraints
Assessment Comprehension exercise, essay, exam, participation
Admin details
Our meetings❄ 10 lectures
❊ 3 hours (!)❊ 2 breaks❊ Slides available after
lecture❄ 5 tutorials
❊ 3 hours
What is Philosophy?❄ Biology❄ Civil Engineering❄ Philosophy?
A puzzle
The Swiss Cheese Paradox❄ The more holes there are, the
less cheese there is.❄ Swiss cheese has holes.❄ More Swiss cheese, more holes.❄ Therefore, the more Swiss
cheese there is, the less cheese there is.
(X) Swiss cheese has holes.
(1) More Swiss cheese, more holes. (2) The more holes there are, the less cheese there is.(3) Therefore, the more Swiss cheese there is, the less cheese there is.
The Swiss Cheese Paradox
(1) X Y
(2) Y Z
(3) Thus, X Z
The Swiss Cheese Paradox
(1) More Swiss cheese, more holes.
(2) The more holes there are, the less cheese there is.
(3) Therefore, the more Swiss cheese there
is, the less cheese there is.
Compelling example
(1) Tom is a lion Tom is a cat
(2) Tom is a cat Tom is a mammal
(3) Thus, Tom is a lion Tom is a mammal
(1) X Y
(2) Y Z
(3) Thus, X Z
The Swiss Cheese Paradox
(1) More Swiss cheese, more holes.
(2) The more holes there are, the less cheese there is.
(3) Therefore, the more Swiss cheese there is, the less cheese there is.
What important thing have you learnt about the world?
What philosophers doConsider Bill Clinton. Clinton might have been different in many ways. Had things turned out otherwise, he might have never been impeached.
In fact, he might never have been president… He might have lived in a different country. He might have had electric blue hair.
But now: could he have been a flower?
What philosophers doWe can of course imagine an eccentric person naming a flower ‘Bill Clinton’. But the question is not whether a flower could have been named ‘Bill Clinton’. The question is whether a flower could have been Bill Clinton.
Concerning the man actually called Bill Clinton (i.e. the actual 42nd president of the United States), could he have been a flower?
And the answer seems to be no… Likewise, it seems that Clinton could not have been a table, or an antelope.
Ted Sider, Riddles of Existence
Introduction to Philosophy
Through Process
Through Issues
Topics
Ethics
Self
Why be
moral?
What is moralit
y?
Is this moral
?
Is the mind the
brain?
What am I?
Are we free?
Recommended approach
❄ Understand the questions
❄ Solve the puzzles Read
Participate
AssessmentShort exercise (10%) 500 words Due 19 Aug 9am Submission TBC
Essay (40%) 1000 words Due 18 Sep 9am Submission TBC
Exam (40%) Short essay responses 2 hrs Focus on 2nd half of term
Participation (10%) Constructive contribution
Philosophy & the others
Morality
Why do we act morally?
What moral beliefs do different cultures have?
How best to develop a child morally?
Why should we be moral?
Is morality merely social conventions?
Is it immoral to eat other humans?
What’s the difference?
I would be a nice person by
ceasing to exploit the poor
I should be a nice person by
ceasing to exploit the poor
Would you be moral?
Should you be moral?
What should I do?❄What I should do
•What I have reason to do•Matter of rationality
❄What I would do•What I actually do• Empirical matter
Why should I be moral?* A Puzzle *
Nature: Survival of the fittest❄ A system of
increasing & using one’s advantages
❄ The strong takes advantage of the weak
❄ The smart takes advantage of the dim
Puzzling morality Catherine Wilson:
Moral obligations “reduce the advantages of those who observe them”Is it rational to reduce one’s advantage???
Why should I be moral?
Why should I be moral?
❄ For self-benefit❄ It makes me feel
good❊ Or, it avoids my feeling
terrible❄ My values are about
being moral
The calculated pursuit of Hello Kitty
1. I want the Hello Kitty figure
2. I would get the figure if I queue at McDs
3. Therefore, I should queue at McDs
Should you queue?“You should queue at Macs for the Hello Kitty figure.”
“But I don’t want the Hello Kitty figure!”
“You should queue regardless of whether you want it.”
???
1. Rationality Principle
I should do something only if that gets me what I want.
❄Can be direct or indirect
2. Observation about morality
Morality does not always get us what we want❄ Sometimes, we can get
away with being immoral
❄ & it is not very hard
Observation about morality
Morality does not always get us what we want
When it fails to do so, why should we be moral?
Ted Bundy❄ Confessed to 30 murders
committed between 1974 – 78.
❄ "...a sadistic sociopath who took pleasure from another human's pain and the control he had over his victims, to the point of death, and even after.” The Stranger Beside Me, by Ann Rule
‘Nor is there any "reason" to obey the law for anyone, like myself, who has the boldness and daring -- the strength of character -- to throw off its shackles. ... I discovered that to become truly free, truly unfettered, I had to become truly uninhibited. And I quickly discovered that the greatest obstacle to my freedom, the greatest block and limitation to it, consists in the insupportable "value judgment" that I was bound to respect the rights of others.’
Statement by Ted Bundy, paraphrased and rewritten by Harry V. Jaffa.
How should we respond to Bundy?
❄ Call him names ❊ Evil, terrible, inhuman…
❄ Try to influence him❊ “You would be moral if
you stop murdering…”
How should we respond to Bundy?❄ Demand that he stop
harming others❊ “You should not cause
others to suffer just for your own pleasure…”
❄ Consider him blameworthy❊ But someone seems
blameworthy only when he did something he should not do
❄Bundy is blameworthy for his evil action
❄Bundy has the obligation to be moral
Morality seems to have authority
“What is distinctive of moral requirements is that they are thought of as providing a reason to act which outweighs or overrides any reason the agent may have to act in some other way. Moral requirements are thus seen as independent of desire in the further sense that they have a claim on our obedience that is not conditional on there being nothing else which we want more.”
- David McNaughton
Moral authority
3. Moral Conviction
We should be moral even when we can get away with immorality.
Moral obligations do not depend on our wants.
Putting them together
Rationality Principle
Observation About
MoralityMoral Conviction
Our wants decide what we should do.
Moral action doesn’t always get us what we want.Moral obligation doesn’t depend on our wants.
Should you be moral?“You should not cheat because it is wrong.”
“But I don’t want to be moral!”
“You should be moral regardless of whether it gets you what you want.”
???
The Ring of Gyges
The Ring of Gyges“…as he was sitting among them he chanced to turn the collet of the ring inside his hand, when instantly he became invisible to the rest of the company and they began to speak of him as if he were no longer present.
Whereupon he contrived to be chosen one of the messengers who were sent to the court; where as soon as he arrived he seduced the queen, and with her help conspired against the king and slew him, and took the kingdom.”
The Ring of Gyges“…If you could imagine any one obtaining this power of becoming invisible, and never doing any wrong or touching what was another's, he would be thought by the lookers-on to be a most wretched idiot, although they would praise him to one another's faces, and keep up appearances with one another from a fear that they too might suffer injustice.”
Putting them together
Rationality Principle
Observation About
MoralityMoral Conviction
It is just a social construct, & a method of social control
‘Morality Is A Sham’
Putting them together
Rationality Principle
Observation About
MoralityMoral Conviction
Our wants decide what we should do.
Moral action doesn’t always get us what we want.Moral obligation doesn’t depend on our wants.
The strategic view
I should be moral because that benefits me❄ Does this strategy really work?❄ Conflict with moral conviction?
The feelings view
I should be moral because:❄ it makes me feel good
❊ Conflict with moral conviction?❄ it prevents me from feeling
bad❊ Seems like a phobia❊ Why not get it treated?
The altruistic view
I should be moral because that is what I want❄ False assumption that
everyone is selfish❄ I have unselfish/altruistic
wants
The values view
I should be moral because that reflects my values.
Putting them together
Rationality Principle
Observation About
MoralityMoral Conviction
Our wants decide what we should do.
Moral action doesn’t always get us what we want.Moral obligation doesn’t depend on our wants.
The philosophical processWhy should we be moral?❄ Principle of Rational Action
❊ Why should we do something?❄ Apply principle to morality
❊ Does moral action meet the criterion of rationality?
Clear cases of (i) rational action & (ii) irrational actions
Reflective Equilibrium
❄ When our beliefs seem to conflict,❊ We should try to dissolve
the conflict❊ Otherwise, we should reject
the conflicting belief we are less sure of, in favour of what we are more sure of
In your view, what are some clearly rational
actions?& some clearly irrational actions?
What friends do❄ I am buying her a gift
because I value her friendship.
❄ I value her friendship because of…
Why do YOU value
friendship?
Puzzle of instrumental valueWhy do you value X?❄ I value X because it gets me Y.Why do you value Y?❄ I value Y because it gets me Z.Why do you value Z?❄ No reason.❄ Only causes.
“I believe the Earth is flat.”
“Because a scientist meddled with my brain to make me believe that.”
“WHY?”
Reasoned or brute?❄ Understanding why I am
having this belief• E.g. A scientist meddled
with my brain❄ Understanding why I should have this belief
• E.g. Because of relevant scientific observations
Reasoned or brute?
❄ Understanding why I am having these values
• E.g. I was conditioned to do so
❄ Understanding why I should have these values
• E.g. Because…?
Puzzle❄ Unknown to you, a scientist
meddled with your brain such that you now value repeatedly counting the hairs on your head.
❄ Should you value repeatedly counting the hairs on your head?
❄ Glasses are needed for count your hairs. Should you buy glasses for that reason?
Value puzzleWhy do you value X?❄ I value X because it gets me
Y.
Why do you value Y?❄ I value Y because it gets me
Z.
Why do you value Z?❄ No reason.
But I have no reason to get Z
But I have no reason to get Y
The values view
I should be moral because that reflects my values.❄ Why should you accept those
values?
2 kinds of value❄ Instrumental value
❊ Value possessed due to functionality
❊ Have reason to pursue it as a means
❄ Intrinsic value❊ Value possessed in itself❊ Have reason to pursue it as an
end in itself
Puzzle of instrumental valueWhy do you value exercise?❄ Because it helps me stay
healthy.Why do you value staying healthy?❄ Because it gets me happiness.Why do you value happiness?❄ Because it is intrinsically
valuable.
I have reason to
get happiness
I have reason to
stay healthy
Putting them together
Rationality Principle
Observation About
MoralityMoral Conviction
Our wants decide what we should do.
Moral action doesn’t always get us what we want.Moral obligation doesn’t depend on our wants.
The calculated pursuit of Hello Kitty
1. I want the Hello Kitty figure
2. I would get the figure if I queue at McDs
3. Therefore, I should queue at McDs
I should try to get what I want.
The calculated pursuit of Hello Kitty
1. I want the Hello Kitty figure
2. I should try to get what I want.
3. Therefore, I should try to get the Hello Kitty figure.
Is this true?
Are you more sure of this than of your
moral convictions?
Putting them together
Rationality Principle
Observation About
MoralityMoral Conviction
Our wants decide what we should do.
Moral action doesn’t always get us what we want.Moral obligation doesn’t depend on our wants.
Conflict
Looking back❄ Are we assuming that only the
satisfaction of our interests is intrinsically valuable?
❄ Moral authority, moral blame & praise❊ We can best make sense of these
if the subjects of moral consideration have intrinsic value
❊ Need for respect
Review
❄ Should & Would❊ Rational vs
psychological❄ Specific to general
❊ Why should I be moral?
❊ Why should I do X?❄ Reflective
equilibrium
Rational Egoism The possibility of altruism
Moral authority & blame/praise
Intrinsic & instrumental value
Coming up…
Why should I be moral?
What is morality?
Why should Bundy be moral?
“Then I learned that all moral judgments are "value judgments," that all value judgments are subjective, and that none can be proved to be either "right" or "wrong." I even read somewhere that the Chief Justice of the United States had written that the American Constitution expressed nothing more than collective value judgments. Believe it or not, I figured out for myself - what apparently the Chief Justice couldn't figure out for himself -- that if the rationality of one value judgment was zero, multiplying it by millions would not make it one whit more rational.
Nor is there any "reason" to obey the law for anyone, like myself, who has the boldness and daring -- the strength of character -- to throw off its shackles. ... I discovered that to become truly free, truly unfettered, I had to become truly uninhibited.
And I quickly discovered that the greatest obstacle to my freedom, the greatest block and limitation to it, consists in the insupportable "value judgment" that I was bound to respect the rights of others. I asked myself, who were these "others"?
… That is the honest conclusion to which my education has led me - after the most conscientious examination of my spontaneous and uninhibited self.”
- Statement by Ted Bundy, paraphrased and rewritten by Harry V. Jaffa.