Table of Contents
What is opposed to utilitarianism?
Critics object to utilitarianism by claiming that the theory justifies treating people unjustly, violating their rights, etc. This criticism only stands up if it is always wrong and thus never morally justified to treat people in these ways.
Is stoicism an ethical theory?
As an ethical doctrine, the goal of Stoicism is freedom from passion (in the ancient sense of “anguish” or “suffering”) through the pursuit of reason and “apatheia” (apathy, in its ancient sense of being objective, unemotional and having clear judgment).
Is stoicism a materialist?
Materialism. Stoicism was thus fully materialistic; the answers to metaphysics are to be sought in physics; particularly the problem of the causes of things for which Plato’s theory of forms and Aristotle’s “substantial form” had been put forth as solutions.
Does utilitarianism promote immoral Behaviour?
As a result of being a maximising moral theory, Utilitarianism seems to make immorality very hard to avoid as it is so utterly demanding on our behaviour.
What branch of philosophy is stoicism?
Hellenistic philosophy
Stoicism is a school of Hellenistic philosophy founded by Zeno of Citium in Athens in the early 3rd century BC.
Is utilitarian morality too demanding?
Many critics argue that utilitarianism is too demanding, because it requires us to always act such as to bring about the best outcome. The theory leaves no room for actions that are permissible yet do not bring about the best consequences.
What is the relevance of Stoicism in ethics?
Stoic ethics achieves a certain plausibility within the context of their physical theory and psychology, and within the framework of Greek ethical theory as that was handed down to them from Plato and Aristotle.
Are actions right or wrong in utilitarianism?
Actions Are Right Insofar as They Promote Happiness, Wrong Insofar as They Produce Unhappiness. This principle is controversial. It makes utilitarianism a form of consequentialism since it says that the morality of an action is decided by its consequences. The more happiness is produced among those affected by the action, the better the action is.
What is the highest good in utilitarianism?
On this page, we discuss the concepts of fairness, justice, morality, and ethics as they relate to Utilitarianism. In simple terms, the concept underlying of all these terms in this sense is the same, “the Highest Good is that which leads to the most happiness, and least pain, for the most people.”
What is the difference between Stoic and Epicurean ethics?
Both Stoic and Epicurean ethics were precursors of later trends in Western ethics: the Stoics of the modern belief in equality and the Epicureans of a utilitarian ethics based on pleasure ( see below Utilitarianism ).