Robert Nozick's Postition on Ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Robert Nozicks Postition on Ethics - Essay ExampleThus, the main rule or the expression in terms of Mills utilitarian thesis is that we ought to act and make decisions on the basis that the sterling(prenominal) good for the greatest number is achieved. Conversely, the basic tenets of Nozicks position on decision theory, runs as follows Nozick argues that our decisions ought to spell a test which states that one should only will for themselves that which they were willing to have everyone else do. Phrased in other terms, we ought not to lie because we would not be living in a fraternity where lying was manifest frequently. This public opinion is the categorical imperative, and it is central in terms of the philosophical background for the hassle of incommensurability. More all fundamental(p)ly, it is a shimmy in emphasis that maintains that it is the consequences and not the intentions that matter. It will be argued that Nozicks position is incommesurable with utilitarianism on the grounds that his focus is on the consequences, and this is an extension of what he sees as the limitations of focusing on the intentions of actions. Considering the consequences and the intentions of an ethical decision is incommensurable, and this is the core of Nozicks critique of utilitarianism. What is important to note in a preliminary sense, is the quantitative approach taken to decision making in both philosophical utilitarianism and in Nozick. By quantitative, it is implied in the general sense that there is a formula and a measure to decide on ethical questions. Further, there is a concern with the popular or the greater number in both formulas. These are all key notions which is informing the general problem of in-commensurability Consider, for example, the problems which arise when measuring the two instances provided at the outset of this analysis. Consider an instance, where an individual was in the position of having to adopt between having civic virtue socie ty and choosing to be loyal to his friend. And, in the other instance, an individual had to consider between his dying mother and the underground resistance movement a form of civic trading again. One can see at the outset, a number of problems. If we apply utilitarianism, then, in both examples society is the greater good. And, if we take the categorical imperative as the measure, we can see some further paradoxes as well. For example, in the Nozickian framework the individual who turns against his friend (because of utilitarianism) is a committing an act which you would not to want to will universally. And, it is the universal, at the same time, who is the primary concern as well. The problem at this point, is related to the notion of the universal and the connection with the universal along with the concept of measuring or quantifying. It can be said that quantification is an important consideration in both utilitarianism and in the notion of the universal in Nozick. He argues that when we are examining the descent between the individual over and against the whole, it is impossible not adequately consider some qualitative distinctions. For example, he points out that while morality is as much a general ethos which is qualitative, that is, the general principles or value which any given culture maintains, the abstract measure of