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Philosophy Essay Plan

ethics) Epicurus Hedonism

(Normative

People want to live a good life. Should it be a morally good life?


Introduction (The essay in a nutshell)
Yes - people should live a morally good life Good can be defined in many ways Morally good? Physically good? Emotionally/religiously good? Temporarily/long term good? What is morally good? Good because God says it is good? Goodness in itself? Who determines what is moral? Who determines the theories that define an act as moral? What are some examples of non-moral good? Who says that they are not good? Can there even be non-moral good?

1st Paragraph - Psychological Egoism


If we want to live a good life (for ourselves) we must act in our own self interest Will the self interest of others defy our good life? If everyone acts in their own self interest would it cancel out our individual good life? Are our own self interests the best determinants of a good life? Societal influences? Social/family influences? Different types of psychological egoism Personal/Individual Ethical

2nd Paragraph - Deontology


Socrates and Crito Doing "good" things will give you a good life which is the ultimate goal of humans

Introduction Introduce the idea that 'good' can be defined in different ways, as can the phrase 'morally good'. Introduce your view on the explanation that makes the most philosophical sense.

Analysis of the term 'good' Non-moral uses of 'good' - examples oral uses of 'good' - examples! "efinitions of morality and ethics Psychological egoism #picurus$%obbes - we are psychologically incapable of acting on any duty or obligation other than meeting our own interests - examples! &lato and the ' yth of 'yges'! (rguments against psychological egoism and evaluation of whether there should be a moral dimension to a 'good life' as compared to the view of Niet)sche Deontology "efinition of deontological approaches to what is 'morally good' examples! *ocrates and +rito! Natural law approach - examples! (rguments against a deontological approach #valuation of a deontological approach as opposed to teleological approaches Ethical egoism (yn ,and - the highest moral purpose is one's own happiness #picurus$(ristotle - we should pursue our moral duties but these are a means to the end of achieving our own happiness #xamples of egoistic hedonism (rguments against egoistic hedonism as the only response to what is 'morally good' - -aier, ,achels, *inger #valuation of egoism as what is 'morally good' as opposed to a deontological approach Utilitarianism .eremy -entham - 'morally good' means 'the greatest good for the greatest number' - examples of what this means in practice (rguments against why this is 'morally good' - problem of /ustice and special responsibilities ,eformulations of utilitarianism by ill, on the basis of 0uality pleasured and rules or principles #valuation of utilitarian approaches as what is 'morally good'

Situation Ethics .oseph 1letcher - 'morally good' means the most 'loving' action, relative to the situation - examples of agapeistic loving actions (rguments against why this is 'morally good' - problem of sub/ectivity and the 'slippery slope' #valuation of the situationist approach to 'morally good', as compared to a utilitarian approach Conclusion *um up the difference between 'good' and 'morally' good and why the latter is preferable *um up different interpretations of 'morally good' and your evaluation of which is more philosophically sound

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