Skip to content
Carmelics
TopicsThinkersChangesContributorsLoading account…

    Carmelics

    A reasoning platform. Break down any belief into clear reasons, explore both sides, and weigh the evidence honestly.

    Navigate

    • Topics
    • Search
    • Recent Changes
    • Contribute
    • How It Works
    • Glossary
    • Thinkers
    • Contributors
    • About
    • Statistics
    • Terms
    • Privacy

    Database

    Statements
    —
    Perspectives
    —
    Topics
    —

    Press ? for keyboard shortcuts

    LoyalLoyalJusticeJustice
    Made withinDC&Austin
    Statements
    321,452
    Perspectives
    108,905
    Topics
    42
    The value of an action depends entirely on the quantity o... — Carmelics
    Home/Consequentialism
    HistoryEditSee Inverse

    The value of an action depends entirely on the quantity of pleasure it produces.

    Consequentialism
    ?Rate how convincing each reason is below to see the overall strength.
    1 reason for
    2 reasons against

    Reasons For

    1 perspective
    Reason for
    ?
    • 1.Actions have only extrinsic value under hedonism.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.Extrinsic value is determined by how much intrinsic value (pleasure) a thing brings about.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 3.Quantity of pleasure is a function of the number of pleasures, their intensity, and their duration.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    Reasons Against

    2 perspectives
    Reason against 1 of 2
    ?
    • 1.Mill himself concedes in Utilitarianism Ch.2 that some pleasures are superior in kind, not merely quantity, undermining pure quantitative hedonism.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.If competent judges consistently prefer Socrates dissatisfied over a fool satisfied, quality must be a value-determining factor irreducible to quantity.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 3.A theory that requires qualitative distinctions among pleasures cannot coherently hold that value depends *entirely* on quantity of pleasure.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    Reason against 2 of 2
    ?
    • 1.G.E. Moore's ideal utilitarianism holds that knowledge, friendship, and beauty have intrinsic value independent of the pleasure they produce.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.If a world with great art but no observers has more value than a world of equal hedonic pleasure with no art, then pleasure quantity is not the sole value determinant.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 3.The intuitive force of Moore's 'two worlds' argument demonstrates that equating value entirely with pleasure quantity commits the naturalistic fallacy.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    Sign in or register to share your perspective on this statement.

    Next step

    Based on where you are in your exploration

    Strongest counterpoint
    Explore the most compelling reason on the other side.

    Topics

    Consequentialism

    Related

    A theory that requires qualitative distinctions among pleasures cannot coherentl...Actions have only extrinsic value under hedonism.Extrinsic value is determined by how much intrinsic value (pleasure) a thing bri...G.E. Moore's ideal utilitarianism holds that knowledge, friendship, and beauty h...
    +5 moreShow less
    If a world with great art but no observers has more value than a world of equal ...If competent judges consistently prefer Socrates dissatisfied over a fool satisf...Mill himself concedes in Utilitarianism Ch.2 that some pleasures are superior in...Quantity of pleasure is a function of the number of pleasures, their intensity, ...The intuitive force of Moore's 'two worlds' argument demonstrates that equating ...

    Similar

    Extrinsic value is determined by how much intrinsic value (pleasure) a...85%If activities are valued independently of desire or pleasure, then ple...84%Intrinsic value resides solely in the mental state of pleasure, not in...83%If one activity is correctly valued more than another, it must be beca...83%

    Source

    AI-extracted1/3 agreementValid
    SEP: mill-moral-political
    View source passageHide passage
    Hedonism implies that the mental state of pleasure is the only thing having intrinsic value (and the mental state of pain is the only intrinsic evil). All other things have only extrinsic value; they have value just insofar as they bring about, mediately or directly, intrinsic value (or disvalue). It follows that actions, activities, etc. can have only extrinsic value, and it would seem that their value should depend entirely upon the quantity of pleasure that they produce, where quantity is a f
    Extraction notes

    Validity: Extracted via Max plan + API grounding/validity checks

    Details

    Type
    claim
    Perspectives
    3 (1 for, 2 against)
    Edits
    1 edit