PHIL 106 MIDTERM UNL EXAM WITH
CORRECT ANSWERS
hedonism - correct answers -pleasure is the only thing which is intrinsically valuable
intrinsic value - correct answers -valuable in itself
instrumental value - correct answers -valuable as a means to bringing about something
good
2 types of pleasures? - correct answers -physical: sensations of pleasure (tanning)
attitudinal: what you enjoy (being with family)
objections to hedonism: - correct answers -1. what if someone enjoys doing bad things?
2. Philippa Food: operation for child who likes picking grass (hedonism says no
operation)
John Stuart MIll - correct answers -higher vs. lower pleasures (hedonism)
, truths to hedonism - correct answers -1. intuitively plausible (allows for our list)
2. allows for many ways to live well
3. we could be wrong about what's good in life
4. explains common sense rules for living a good life
objections to hedonism: The Experience Machine - correct answers -Nozick: limits us to
a man-made reality
objections to hedonism: The False Happiness Objection - correct answers -loyal
husband vs. cheating husband who you believe is loyal
(happiness based on false beliefs contributes less to well-being)
objections to hedonism: Autonomy - correct answers -what undermines autonomy?
1. excessive political control
2. misinformation
3. interference with one's mental abilities (drunk)
objections to hedonism: "Unhappiness as a Symptom" - correct answers -you can be
harmed even if you aren't sad about it
objections to hedonism: "Trajectory of Life" - correct answers -life B is greater than Life
A
objections to hedonism: Paradox of Hedonism - correct answers -the best way to be
happy isn't to directly aim to be as happy as possible
Desire Satisfaction Theory - correct answers -your life goes well to the extent that you
get what you want
(if something satisfies your desires then it's good for you)
what happens if you have 2 desires? - correct answers -the stronger desire contributes
greater to well being, but he weaker desire still contributes just not as much
advantages of the Desire Satisfaction Theory - correct answers -1. allows for there to be
a variety of good lives
2. it's up to each individual to determine what makes his or her life go well.
3. it doesn't have trouble explaining how we know what's good for us
Objective List Theories - correct answers -theories which present a list of things which
are good for a person, whether or not they satisfy that person's desires
Desire Satisfaction Theory may be able to avoid the tough objections to Hedonism -
correct answers -1. experience machine: not a good life, because you actually want to
do the thing
2. false happiness: the lady with the cheating husband's desires aren't actually being
fulfilled, even though she thinks they are
CORRECT ANSWERS
hedonism - correct answers -pleasure is the only thing which is intrinsically valuable
intrinsic value - correct answers -valuable in itself
instrumental value - correct answers -valuable as a means to bringing about something
good
2 types of pleasures? - correct answers -physical: sensations of pleasure (tanning)
attitudinal: what you enjoy (being with family)
objections to hedonism: - correct answers -1. what if someone enjoys doing bad things?
2. Philippa Food: operation for child who likes picking grass (hedonism says no
operation)
John Stuart MIll - correct answers -higher vs. lower pleasures (hedonism)
, truths to hedonism - correct answers -1. intuitively plausible (allows for our list)
2. allows for many ways to live well
3. we could be wrong about what's good in life
4. explains common sense rules for living a good life
objections to hedonism: The Experience Machine - correct answers -Nozick: limits us to
a man-made reality
objections to hedonism: The False Happiness Objection - correct answers -loyal
husband vs. cheating husband who you believe is loyal
(happiness based on false beliefs contributes less to well-being)
objections to hedonism: Autonomy - correct answers -what undermines autonomy?
1. excessive political control
2. misinformation
3. interference with one's mental abilities (drunk)
objections to hedonism: "Unhappiness as a Symptom" - correct answers -you can be
harmed even if you aren't sad about it
objections to hedonism: "Trajectory of Life" - correct answers -life B is greater than Life
A
objections to hedonism: Paradox of Hedonism - correct answers -the best way to be
happy isn't to directly aim to be as happy as possible
Desire Satisfaction Theory - correct answers -your life goes well to the extent that you
get what you want
(if something satisfies your desires then it's good for you)
what happens if you have 2 desires? - correct answers -the stronger desire contributes
greater to well being, but he weaker desire still contributes just not as much
advantages of the Desire Satisfaction Theory - correct answers -1. allows for there to be
a variety of good lives
2. it's up to each individual to determine what makes his or her life go well.
3. it doesn't have trouble explaining how we know what's good for us
Objective List Theories - correct answers -theories which present a list of things which
are good for a person, whether or not they satisfy that person's desires
Desire Satisfaction Theory may be able to avoid the tough objections to Hedonism -
correct answers -1. experience machine: not a good life, because you actually want to
do the thing
2. false happiness: the lady with the cheating husband's desires aren't actually being
fulfilled, even though she thinks they are
