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From: rlr@pyuxd.UUCP (Arthur Pewtey)
Newsgroups: net.philosophy
Subject: Re: Premises,Premises,Premises,... (is good logical?)
Message-ID: <1110@pyuxd.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 19-Jun-85 11:04:51 EDT
Article-I.D.: pyuxd.1110
Posted: Wed Jun 19 11:04:51 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 20-Jun-85 10:23:21 EDT
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>>Everyone on this planet
>>thinks the best morality is based on good.  The problems occur when you ask
>>each of them to define good. [ROSEN]

> Is it not absurd to say that "the best morality is based on good," and then,
> afterwards, to define good? [SYKORA]

But isn't that how it's done?  All moral systems think of themselves as good,
even those of Genghis Khan and Hitler.  What morality says "We should all do
these things because they are bad"?

>>Logically, the MOST good would be accomplished
>>by that system which is good to the most people over the longest period of
>>time.

> In order to maximize GOOD, we must select that system that is a member
> of the set of possible systems, such that the total good, i.e., the sum
> over all persons in the system of the good for each person, in the system
> is maximal.  Your statement above fails to take into account the fact that
> within a given system, the good for all persons need not be equal.

Need not be, but the goal IS to maximize nonetheless.

>>It would seem logical
>>that the system that produces the most good for the most people for the
>>longest time would work out to be the best (most good) in the long run.

> This conclusion only necessarily follows from your examples given one of a
> set of possible assumptions regarding the power of each person, e.g., the
> assumption that each person has the same amount of power to change the
> situation to be in his favor.

My examples do not draw on each person's "power".  That is in fact irrelevant
to an argument as to which is the way to maximize benefits.  The fact that
some may seem to have more "power" to accrue benefits is not at issue, as long
as the morality and the society prohibits interfering/harmful/abusive methods
of accruing benefits at others' expense.
-- 
"to be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best night and day
 to make you like everybody else means to fight the hardest battle any human
 being can fight and never stop fighting."  - e. e. cummings
	Rich Rosen	ihnp4!pyuxd!rlr