Defining Good: A Subjective Perspective

[Philocrat]

Utilitarianism, an outcome?
If I can summarize it in my own words:

• Universalism: good is what benefits everyone [Kant]
• Utilitarianism: quantifying things in units of the 'highest good'

The 'highest good' is overall happiness, it's a kind of balance reflecting what is possible* in our reality.
Universalism & Utilitarianism are both desirable, but the last one is above that necessary (and has the disadvantage that it's more a survival principle than a moral principle).

Some questions
I've a few questions:

• Temporary good: Utilitarianism seems to be a manner to describe how it's done by now, due to the survival-of-the-fittest circumstances that still dictate the world. A survival principle like you said. Why should we assign 'good' to these kinds of 'temporary solutions' if we can imagine something 'better'? (universalism)
• The law of numbers: Do you really think that it's better for one man to die for the people? Also if you're that man? Is it not more 'natural' to define 'good' for yourself as 'good for you'? Isn't it 'human' to be hedonistic** in some kind of way? If you don't formulate 'good' in universalistic terms why are you chosing for utilitarianism?
• The moral value of rights: Is it 'right' to balance 'the value of life' against 'the value of freedom'. How much worth is the 'right to live'? Do we have the 'right' to quantify things in units?

*

To go on record, I personally do not like Utilitarianism because in its calculus anyone of us could fall victim of it. One of the biggest nightmares about it is that nearly all of us are guilty of its application. As I have pointed it out everywhere on this PF, we automatically apply utilitarian principles in our daily decision makings often without realising it. In real terms, no one in his or her right mind likes to apply it, but when moral dilemmas of notorious kinds confront us, we unfortunately turn to utilitarianism as a last resort principle. This is precisely the reason why I think of it as more of a survival principle than a moral one. However, as I have made it clear elsewhere, there are those who may view it as a moral principle precisely because it has the capacity to preserve in the face of chaos (for the very reason given below).

On the other hand universalism is the most desirable (and I fully subscribe to it myself) but unfortunately it is currently ill-equipped to handle or deal satisfactorily with moral dilemmas. The chilling and very disturbing feature of it that philosophers have discovered over the centuries is that in some very notorious catch-22 situations, in the process of trying save eveyone, you may very well end up completely annihilating the entire population, or in the process of trying to please everyone, you may end up rendering the entire population discontent. This is the problem. But the universalists are arguing that there is no excuse whatsover for anyone to degrade one's action to the level of utilitrianism, let alone to a level far worse than it.

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NOTE: I think you should look at my conversation with False Prophet on the 'Push Red Button' debate in the philosophy section. I have said quite a lot there and clarified things further on the complex relations between the two principles.
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An example: no one is responsible for deaths fallen due to earthquakes yet, maybe in the future organisations that can control or predict them will be held responsible.
**For me hedonistic doesn't mean, trying to obtain pleasure to whatever cost. It's recognizing the subjective view I have as particular human being. The only thing what seems like 'morality' in my life is my respect for pro-choice thoughts. I am in the first place responsible for myself, that doesn't mean only that I've to feed myself, but also that I've to enjoy myself, to make fun in life. Improve the world, start with yourself. If you aren't happy yourself, who else can make you happy?

True...but very often when we try to own up things, go solo, be the ONE, and stand tall to the highest height but only to be reminded on short notice, often without warning, by nature that things could be otherwise afterall...COLLECTIVE! One of the greatest problems that confronts the frontiers of all intellectual disciplines is how to reconcile COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY with PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY, COMMON GOOD with PERSONAL GOOD, and son on. Yes, you do have your personal goals, dreams, and responsibilities, but unfortunately these must always be reconciled with those of others. The tension is the pulling opposites, and we cannot pretend that this does not exist or affect how we co-exist and interact wirh each other. And when the going gets tough we turn utilitarian, often forgeting that others could make utilitarian decisions that affect us too. My own view is that the time has come for us, especially those within the intellectual disciplines, to start looking very carefully at these complex structures... what I otherwise call 'PHANTOM STRUCTURES'.

 

[XMLT]

"Good" things bring you happiness. Whether something is good or bad, it depends on the person who considers it. Your own conscience is the best expert on this.