C-015Rossian Pluralism vs. ConsequentialismConfidence: Medium

What Makes Right Acts Right? Ch II of The Right and the Good

Ross (1930)

One-Sentence Thesis

Ross argues that there is no single general character that makes right acts right, and he critiques various theories, including egoism, utilitarianism, and hedonistic utilitarianism, that attempt to base rightness on productivity of some sort of result.

Argument Outline

1Introduction to the problem of what makes right acts right
2Critique of egoism and hedonistic utilitarianism
3Discussion of Professor Moore's theory that what makes actions right is that they are productive of more good than could have been produced by any other action open to the agent
4Analysis of the limitations of these theories, including the fact that a great part of duty consists in an observance of the rights and a furtherance of the interests of others, whatever the cost to ourselves may be

Key Distinctions

The distinction between acting from a sense of rightness and acting from self-interest

The distinction between pleasure and other things that are thought to be good in themselves, such as the possession of a good character or an intelligent understanding of the world

Key Terms

Egoism

The theory that what makes actions right is that they are productive of the agent's own pleasure or advantage

Utilitarianism

The theory that what makes actions right is that they are productive of the greatest pleasure or good for the greatest number of people

Hedonistic utilitarianism

The theory that what makes actions right is that they are productive of the greatest pleasure

Flashcards

34 cards