Combining Texts

Ideas for 'Mahaprajnaparamitashastra', 'The View from Nowhere' and 'Introductions to Utilitarianism and its Critics'

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10 ideas

23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 3. Virtues / a. Virtues
The six perfections are giving, morality, patience, vigour, meditation, and wisdom [Nagarjuna]
     Full Idea: The six perfections are of giving, morality, patience, vigour, meditation, and wisdom.
     From: Nagarjuna (Mahaprajnaparamitashastra [c.120], 88)
     A reaction: What is 'morality', if giving is not part of it? I like patience and vigour being two of the virtues, which immediately implies an Aristotelian mean (which is always what is 'appropriate').
23. Ethics / D. Deontological Ethics / 1. Deontology
Something may be 'rational' either because it is required or because it is acceptable [Nagel]
     Full Idea: "Rational" may mean rationally required or rationally acceptable
     From: Thomas Nagel (The View from Nowhere [1986], X.4)
Duty prohibits some acts, whatever their consequences [Glover]
     Full Idea: The deontological view is that some acts are absolutely prohibited, regardless of consequences.
     From: Jonathan Glover (Introductions to Utilitarianism and its Critics [1990], Pt Five)
23. Ethics / D. Deontological Ethics / 2. Duty
If cockroaches can't think about their actions, they have no duties [Nagel]
     Full Idea: If cockroaches cannot think about what they should do, there is nothing they should do.
     From: Thomas Nagel (The View from Nowhere [1986], VIII.3)
23. Ethics / D. Deontological Ethics / 3. Universalisability
If we can decide how to live after stepping outside of ourselves, we have the basis of a moral theory [Nagel]
     Full Idea: If we can make judgements about how we should live even after stepping outside of ourselves, they will provide the material for moral theory.
     From: Thomas Nagel (The View from Nowhere [1986], VIII.1)
We should see others' viewpoints, but not lose touch with our own values [Nagel]
     Full Idea: One should occupy a position far enough outside your own life to reduce the importance of the difference between yourself and other people, yet not so far outside that all human values vanish in a nihilistic blackout (i.e.aim for a form of humility).
     From: Thomas Nagel (The View from Nowhere [1986], XI.2)
23. Ethics / D. Deontological Ethics / 6. Motivation for Duty
We find new motives by discovering reasons for action different from our preexisting motives [Nagel]
     Full Idea: There are reasons for action, and we must discover them instead of deriving them from our preexisting motives - and in that way we can acquire new motives superior to the old.
     From: Thomas Nagel (The View from Nowhere [1986], VIII.1)
23. Ethics / E. Utilitarianism / 1. Utilitarianism
Satisfaction of desires is not at all the same as achieving happiness [Glover, by PG]
     Full Idea: Objections to utilitarianism as maximisation of preferences: faded past desires or the desires of the dead; obtaining desires and happiness are different; fewer desires are easier to satisfy; pain is good if it can be removed.
     From: report of Jonathan Glover (Introductions to Utilitarianism and its Critics [1990], Pt Two) by PG - Db (ideas)
23. Ethics / E. Utilitarianism / 3. Motivation for Altruism
Utilitarianism is too demanding [Nagel]
     Full Idea: Utilitarianism is too demanding.
     From: Thomas Nagel (The View from Nowhere [1986], X.5)
23. Ethics / E. Utilitarianism / 5. Rule Utilitarianism
Rule-utilitarianism is either act-utilitarianism, or not really utilitarian [Glover]
     Full Idea: Rule-utilitarianism seems either to collapse into act-utilitarianism, or else it is only partly utilitarian.
     From: Jonathan Glover (Introductions to Utilitarianism and its Critics [1990], Pt Six)