Philosopy: risk, consent, and innocence/guilt
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Let's set aside issues involving risk. consent. and innocence/guilt. and focus on cases where
everyone is innocent and non-consenting. and where
all the outcomes of one's actions are known- Under these circumstances. consider the following
three views:
Harm View: An action is wrong just in cases it causes harm
Cost-Benefit View: An action is wrong just in case it causes more harm then good. i-e.. just in
case it results in a REDUCTION of total welfare.
Total Welfare Maximization View: An action is wrong just in case it FAILS TO MAXIMIZE total
welfare. That is. an action is wrong just in case there is
some alternative action available to the agent which would result in a greater total welfare among
all the affected parties- Or to put this another way:
An action is wrong just in case some other action would produce a greater net total of benefits
minus harms-
1- Explain one problem faced by the Harm View which is solved by the Cost-Benefit View. and explain
how the Cost-Benefit View solves this problem.
2. Explain one problem faced by the Cost Benefit View which is solved by the Total Welfare
Maximization View. and explain how the Total Welfare
Maximization View solves this problem.
Note: in answering these questions. while you are encouraged to consult the notes. you should not
simply copy what is in them. Recall that you neec
to show that you UNDERSTAND what we discussed in class. Thus. explain the problems and solutions in
your own words. and use your own
examples to
illustrate them.
Prospective Component.
1- Under what conditions do you think we are morally required to BENEFIT others? State your view in
the form of a general principle.
2. For each of the three views considered in the Retrospective Component. explain what it implies
about our obligations (or lack of obligations) to
help others. Are these implications plausible or implausible? Defend your answer.