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- Objectivist compatibilist utilitarianism
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UBC Theses and Dissertations
Objectivist compatibilist utilitarianism Sleigh, Nicholas Campbell
Abstract
In this thesis a version of the ethical theory of utilitarianism is defended. The version defended is called ‘objectivist compatibilist utilitarianism’, or ‘OCtJ’. On this version, utilitarian metaethics includes the propositions that there is an objective, intrinsic property of goodness entifying, motivating, and grounding ethics, and that act and rule utilitarianism are compatible since under plausible interpretations both true. While this metaethical theory has perhaps not been stated explicitly before, theories in this vein have been popular since the mid—l9th century, and have been expounded by philosophers such as J.S. Mill and G.E. Moore. OCU will be defended by examination of six influential objections to various of its hypotheses. In each case, thorough conceptual analysis, aided by consultation of relevant scientific facts about human nature, will reveal that the objection is seriously flawed. In the process of dispatching these negative considerations, a comprehensive positive ethical theory will emerge. Most other currently popular ethical theories are not comprehensive, but instead take no position (or several, which amounts to the same thing) on one or more of the major issues that any comprehensive ethical theory must deal with. OCU thus emerges as one of only a very few contemporary comprehensive ethical theories — and on balance the most plausible of the lot.
Item Metadata
Title |
Objectivist compatibilist utilitarianism
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Creator | |
Publisher |
University of British Columbia
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Date Issued |
1994
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Description |
In this thesis a version of the ethical theory of
utilitarianism is defended. The version defended is called
‘objectivist compatibilist utilitarianism’, or ‘OCtJ’. On this
version, utilitarian metaethics includes the propositions that
there is an objective, intrinsic property of goodness entifying,
motivating, and grounding ethics, and that act and rule
utilitarianism are compatible since under plausible
interpretations both true. While this metaethical theory has
perhaps not been stated explicitly before, theories in this vein
have been popular since the mid—l9th century, and have been
expounded by philosophers such as J.S. Mill and G.E. Moore.
OCU will be defended by examination of six influential
objections to various of its hypotheses. In each case, thorough
conceptual analysis, aided by consultation of relevant scientific
facts about human nature, will reveal that the objection is
seriously flawed. In the process of dispatching these negative
considerations, a comprehensive positive ethical theory will
emerge. Most other currently popular ethical theories are not
comprehensive, but instead take no position (or several, which
amounts to the same thing) on one or more of the major issues
that any comprehensive ethical theory must deal with. OCU thus
emerges as one of only a very few contemporary comprehensive
ethical theories — and on balance the most plausible of the lot.
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Extent |
2923598 bytes
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Genre | |
Type | |
File Format |
application/pdf
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Language |
eng
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Date Available |
2009-04-07
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Provider |
Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library
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Rights |
For non-commercial purposes only, such as research, private study and education. Additional conditions apply, see Terms of Use https://open.library.ubc.ca/terms_of_use.
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DOI |
10.14288/1.0099225
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URI | |
Degree | |
Program | |
Affiliation | |
Degree Grantor |
University of British Columbia
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Graduation Date |
1994-05
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Campus | |
Scholarly Level |
Graduate
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Aggregated Source Repository |
DSpace
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Item Media
Item Citations and Data
Rights
For non-commercial purposes only, such as research, private study and education. Additional conditions apply, see Terms of Use https://open.library.ubc.ca/terms_of_use.