View Single Post
Old 04-19-2009, 08:12 AM   #820
PKFFW
Wizard
PKFFW ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.PKFFW ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.PKFFW ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.PKFFW ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.PKFFW ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.PKFFW ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.PKFFW ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.PKFFW ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.PKFFW ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.PKFFW ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.PKFFW ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.
 
Posts: 3,791
Karma: 33500000
Join Date: Dec 2008
Device: BeBook, Sony PRS-T1, Kobo H2O
Quote:
Originally Posted by tompe View Post
The specific act in a specific situation is wrong. You do not talk of an "absolute wrong". What do you mean here by "absolute wrong"?
You began by explaining that utilitarians consider the consequences of their actions to determine whether those actions are wrong or not. Patricia explained a utilitarian view point as one that considers an act with regards to what will give the greatest good to the greatest number of people.

So, if it is the consequences that make an action wrong or not, and if the definition of an action not being wrong means that it provides good to many people(good and many being relative terms of course but I hope you get my point), does it not follow that the definition of a "wrong" act would be if the harm done by the act outweighed the good done by it?

Therefore doesn't it follow that if an action does no good whatsoever and instead causes only harm, would that not be "absolutely wrong"? How could the action not be wrong if it causes absolutely no good at all?

Cheers,
PKFFW
PKFFW is offline   Reply With Quote