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Hedonism:

Hedonism is the philosophy that pleasure is the most important pursuit of mankind,
and the only thing that is good for an individual. Hedonists, therefore, strive
to maximise their total pleasure (the net of any pleasure less any pain or suffering).
They believe that pleasure is the only good in life, and pain is the only evil, and our
life's goal should be to maximize pleasure and minimize pain.

Psychological Hedonism is the view that humans are psychologically


constructed in such a way that we exclusively desire pleasure. Ethical Hedonism,
on the other hand, is the view that our fundamental moral obligation is to maximize
pleasure or happiness. It is the normative claim that we should always act so as to
produce our own pleasure.

Cynicism:

Cynicism is an ancient Greek ethical doctrine which holds that the purpose of life is to
live a life of Virtue in agreement with Nature (which calls for only the bare
necessities required for existence). This means rejecting all conventional desires
for health, wealth, power and fame, and living a life free from
all possessions and property. However, rather than retreating from society, Cynics
should live in the full glare of the public's gaze and would be quite indifferent in the
face of any insults which might result from their unconventional behaviour. Their way
of life requires continuous training (of both the mind and the body), not just an
abdication of responsibility and a nihistic lifestyle.

Stoicism:

Stoicism is an ancient Greek philosophy (developed by Zeno of Citium around


300 B.C. as a refinement of Cynicism) which teaches the development of self-
control and fortitude as a means of overcoming destructive emotions. It does not
seek to extinguish emotions competely, but rather seeks to transform them by a
resolute Asceticism (a voluntary abstinence from worldly pleasures), which enables
a person to develop clear judgment, inner calm and freedom from suffering (which it
considers the ultimate goal).

The golden rule requires that we treat others only as we consent to being
treated in the same situation. GR is the most important principle in this book
and perhaps the most important rule of life. GR can be derived from the
consistency requirements of our previous chapter. Applying GR requires
further elements, like knowledge and imagination, that we'll discuss in the
following chapter.
These questions are about Chapter 8 of Harry Gensler's Ethics: A
Contemporary Introduction (Routledge: 1998 and 2011).

A golden rule theorem


Our golden rule theorem says: "Treat others only as you consent to being treated in the
same situation." To apply GR, I'd imagine myself in the other person's place on the
receiving end of the action. GR forbids this combination:
* I do something to another.
* I'm unwilling that this be done to me in the same situation.
GR doesn't tell us what specific act to do. And it doesn't replace regular moral norms. It
only prescribes consistency -- that we not have our actions (toward another) be out of
harmony with our desires (about a reversed-situation action). To apply GR adequately,
we need knowledge and imagination.

If we're conscientious and impartial, then we'll follow GR -- since then we won't do
something to another unless we believe it would be all right -- and thus believe it would
be all right to do to us in the same situation -- and thus are willing that it be done to us in
the same situation.

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