Virtue Ethics and Utilitarianism: An Approach by Appearances
One of the fundamental differences between human beings and other animals lies in the possibility of sophisticating thought in order to achieve moral greatness. For Aristotle, habits that direct man towards the good are virtues. On the other hand, practices that degenerate man are called vices. Because of this, an ethical basis becomes necessary for […]
Virtues and utilitarianism: an impossible dialogue?
At first sight, utilitarianism and virtue ethics are absolutely incompatible currents of thought: utilitarianism calls for a principle of maximization, to an instrumental calculation of consequences as a criterion for the classification of moral acts, while virtue ethics requires careful analysis of the situation and the context in which the agent finds himself to determine […]
The utility of staying at home
For much of 2020, we have stayed at home, even if we do not wish. The pandemic that hit the world showed the government’s inability in dealing with serious public health problems, and individual behavior has become the main way to prevent the situation from worsening. When it comes to individual behaviors, then, ethical issues […]
Exceptions to the Rule for Your Own Benefit: A Moral Judgment Problem
The house that I lived a few years ago was on a relatively busy avenue. Across the street was a large bakery and many of its customers parked their cars in front of my house. The problem was that they often left the vehicle blocking the garage exit. Parking in front of the garage exit […]
Happiness, empathy and social selfishness: reflections on moral conduct in Utilitarianism
In utilitarian thought, the definition of morality will necessarily derive from articulation between sensitivity and rationality. The most immediate aggregation is with the Hobbesian model, where pain and pleasure are determining characteristics of cognition. The conception of Bentham establishes that nature placed humanity under the dominion of two sovereign masters: pain and pleasure. It is […]