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Exploring Ethics (Cahn): Cahn--Happiness and Immorality

Cahn rescues a surprising claim: one can be happy because of their immorality.

BrianGlenney
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Exploring Ethics (Cahn): Cahn--Happiness and Immorality

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  1. Happiness and Immorality Stephen M. Cahn Vs. Jeffrie G. Murphy

  2. From Last Class… • Egoism is the basis of a form of ‘moral skepticism,’ the idea that there is no objective/intersubjective good. • There is no basis for egoism given that we all act altruistically on occasion (maybe).

  3. …to this class • It is possible to be a happy and IMMORAL person. • But, to accept such a possibility, we must realize that WE might be just in achieving immoral happiness.

  4. Three Happy Immoralists • Fred, Woody Allen’s character, and Kate is known for fame, wealth, and integrity, but attained these properties through hiddenand immoral means. • Anyone who is famous, wealth and has integrity is happy. • So, Fred, Woody Allen’s character, and Kate is happy. Wait…integrity?

  5. Interpretation 1) Murphy’s Objection: Fame/Wealth inconsistent with Integrity? • To acquire Fame/Wealth, one must act inconsistently. • Inconsistent actions are not part of a person with integrity. • Thus, to acquire Fame/Wealth requires sacrificing integrity. “Full human happiness is to be understood as the satisfaction one takes in having a personality wherein all elements required for a fully realized human life are harmoniously integrated. Theimmoralist lacks some of these attributes—integrity…” (85)

  6. Integrity (Lynne McFall) Varieties of Integrity: • Belief: One’s beliefs fit like a puzzle • “I believe it is wrong for anyone to lie but me” • Actions: One consistently applies their behavior to their beliefs. • Lying is bad = I do not Lie • If one notices a hypocritical tendency, then they change either their behavior or belief • Intentions: The reason for why one acts is consistent with their behavior and belief. • I do not lie because I believe that lying is bad and I intend to act on that belief.

  7. Integrity (Lynne McFall) Varieties of Incoherence (no integrity): • NO Principled Belief: “Physical pleasure is the greatest good.” • NO Principled Actions: “Every action should result in maximum approval.” • NO Principled Intentions: “Every action is based on maximizing my benefit.” Intentions

  8. Integrity (Lynne McFall) Integrity = Commitment to an Intrinsic Value Intrinsic value means that you would want it even if you could not have it. What’s YOUR intrinsic value? Whatever you would die for. (If there is nothing you would die for, perhaps you are not a person that is a good candidate for having integrity.)

  9. Response: Fame/Wealth and Intrinsic Value • It is totally possible to have Fame and be Wealthy and yes STILL be someone who believes in something so deeply they will die for it. • So, there is nothing intrinsic about Fame/Wealth that lacks integrity.

  10. Interpretation 2) Murphy’s Objection: Immoral life inconsistent with Integrity? • Integrity require consistency of action and appearance. • Fred, Woody Allen’s character, and Kate all acted immorally but were praised for moral appearance. • So, Fred, Woody Allen’s character, and Kate do not have integrity.

  11. Response: Cahn Without the immoral act, the moral appearance which brings about happiness would not be possible. Hence, the immoral act IS consistent with the moral appearance in that it is a causal basis for happiness. “…immorality enhanced his happiness.” (88)

  12. Summary: Cahn’s argument • To be immoral means that you commits acts that hurt others to help yourself (Nagel’s Golden Rule). • To be happy means that you are helped. • Thus, it is possible to by happy and immoral. OBJECTIONS?

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