Outlines of a Critical Theory of EthicsDewey, John
Philosophy
Outlines of a Critical Theory of Ethics
Dewey, John
Ethics
We may recognize three main types of theories regarding the good,
of which the first two represent (we shall attempt to show) each
respectively one side of the truth, while the third combines the
one-sided truths of the other two. Of the first two theories one is
abstract, because it tends to find the good in the mere consequences
of conduct aside from character. This is the hedonistic theory, which
finds the good to be pleasure. This is either individualistic or
universalistic according as it takes individual or general pleasure
to be the good. The second type of theories attempts to find the good
in the motive of conduct apart from consequences even as willed; it
reduces the good to conformity to abstract moral law. The best type of
this theory is the Kantian. We shall criticize these theories with a
view to developing the factors necessary to a true moral theory.
X.
Hedonism.
According to the strict hedonistic position, the pleasure resulting
to the agent from his act is the end of conduct and is therefore the
criterion of its morality. The position as usually taken involves,
first, that pleasure is psychologically the sole motive to action; and,
secondly, that the results of an act in the way of the pain or pleasure
it produces are the only tests we have of the rightness of the act.
It is said above that these two points are involved in
the hedonistic position as _usually_ taken. They are not
_necessarily_ involved.
Sidgwick (Methods of Ethics, Bk. I, ch. IV and Bk. IV,
ch. I) holds that pleasure is not the object of desire
or motive of action, but that happiness is the moral
end and criterion. On the other hand Hodgson (Theory of
Practice, Vol. II, ch. II) holds that pleasure may be the
motive (in the sense of impelling force) but it is never
the criterion of conduct. Kant adopts the psychology of
hedonism regarding pleasure as the object of desire, but
holds that on that very account no object of desire can be
the standard of moral conduct.
A good statement of strict individualistic hedonism is the
following from Barratt, Physical Ethics, page 71: "If man
aims at pleasure merely by the physical law of action, that
pleasure must evidently be ultimately his own, and whether
it be or not preceded by phenomena which he calls the pain
and pleasure of others, is a question not of principle but
of detail, just as the force of a pound weight is unaltered
whether it be composed of lead or of feathers, or whether
it act directly or through pulleys."
XI.
The Hedonistic Position Supported.
Hedonism holds that pleasure is both the natural end and the proper
criterion of action:
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