Utilitarians think your moral success depends on the outward consequences of your actions. Kantians think it all depends on your inward intentions. Today we look at a different theory, one that assumes that the most important part of being moral is forming your own character. We’ll also consider why we should try to be good — should we be moral because we want to avoid the social problems that would come with people thinking we’re immoral? Or is there something intrinsically valuable about being a good person?
Read This:
Interactive Essay: Why Be Good? Book II of Plato’s Republic
Key Concepts:
- Instrumental goods vs. intrinsic goods
- The “Ring of Gyges” thought experiment
Have questions or thoughts about the reading? Post them on PollEverywhere, and upvote any classmates’ responses that you’d like to cover in class. We’ll address the most upvoted responses during the Q&A part of class.
Do This:
- Recommended: Complete lessons 1-6 of How We Argue by Sunday, Sep 22.
Pre-Class Questions
With each day’s reading, you will be given a set of questions to help you check your understanding of the material and prepare for class. Your responses are due on Canvas before class. See the syllabus for grading information. Your top 15 scores of the semester will count toward your final grade.
- In your own words, explain the difference between intrinsic goods and instrumental goods, and give an example of each (other than those found in our reading).
- Do you think most people would do bad things if they knew they could get away with it? Why or why not? (If you would like to practice your argument mapping skills, you can give your response in the form of an argument map.)
Living the Good Life
For each class topic, you’ll be given at least one prompt for a longer (~300 word) written reflection. You may write up to two reflections in the first half of the semester and up to two in the second half of the semester. You can also revise and resubmit one reflection for a new grade, within one week after your grade is posted. Your top three scores will count toward your final grade. Any “Living the Good Life” reflections addressing prompts from the Morality unit (“Learn to Live Well” through “Don’t Obsess About Morality”) are due on Canvas by 11:59pm on September 27.
Have you ever been in a situation where you had to choose between doing the morally right thing and acting in your own self-interest? Describe the situation, and explain what factors led you to make the choice you did. Do you think most other people would have made the same choice in that situation? Why or why not?
