Introduction to suffering-focused ethics
Moral Frameworks of Suffering-focused Ethics
Strong Negative utilitarianism
Only concerned with minimizing suffering
Weak Negative Utilitarianism
Other names
‘negative-leaning’, ‘partially asymmetric’, or ‘partially suffering-focused’
Suffering primarily, happiness secondarily
Suffering exchange rate > happiness exchange rate 1.x > 1.0
Negative consequentialism
includes suffering (experience) as well as injustice
Approach: Unacceptable Tradeoffs
Unacceptable to purchase positivity in exchange for negativity
To which degree?
Positivity for acceptable quality of life
Negativity from minor to death, intense suffering
How other views support suffering-focused ethics
Focus on well being: Implies preventing bad
Population Ethics with view that increasing population does not increase welfare: Implies preventing suffering
Suffering vs Positive Value (e.g,. happiness)
Urgency
Suffering has urgency
'Emergency' is reduce suffering not happiness
moral monster,s evil actions
always about suffering not about failing to create positive values
Situation: Extreme Suffering + Extreme Good = Overall-bad
Should prevent whole situation
Impossible to counterbalance with good
Good has no urgency
Not increase seems wholly fine & unproblematic
Questions: Is this view from..
aversion to suffering?
Would be solved via equanimity
lack of sympathetic joy?
Would be solved via cultivating sympathethic joy?
intellectual perception rather than direct experience?
Good & Bad
Good: Flawless
Definition
No need to change anything
Cannot make it better
No spectrum
Moral Implication
No moral imperative to add anything/improve
Reality
rarely or never reach it
Bad: Flawed
Spectrum i.e., varies in degree
Approach to Morality
Reduce flawed. Not increase flawless
No experience that are a positive counterpart to suffering
e.g., positive final value, positive well-being
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