GUIDE TO THE PHILOSOPHY 1938 - 1947.pdf - Rare Books at ...

CHAPTER XI: ETHICAL THEORY
SURVEYED. DISCUSSION OF
HEDONISM
Plan of Ensuing Discussion. The preceding exposition
has been a lengthy one and has left a number of
loose threads which, in the present chapter, I shall try
to gather together. One of the most important is the
question raised by the philosophy of Hedonism. Is pleasure
the only object of desire, or, as it is sometimes stated, is
pleasure the sole good? Or are both these contentions fake?
These questions have presented themselves on a number
of occasions in other connections, and are now entitled
to be considered on their merits. If there seem to be good
reasons for thinking that other things are good beside
pleasure, the question arises, what is their nature? The
discussion in this chapter and the next will, accordingly,
fall into three parts; first, a survey of the results of the
examination of ethical theories in the preceding chapters;
secondly, a discussion of Hedonism; thirdly, the outline
of a positive theory of good, or, to use the term which
I prefer, of value.
I. SUMMARY OF THE RESULTS OF
THE PRECEDING SURVEY
A. Criticism of Subjectivist Theories
clear that none of the theories hitherto
It is, I think,
considered is completely satisfactory. To begin with the
subjectivist theories outlined in the last chapter, it can,
I think, be shown that any subjectivist theory of ethics is
exposed to serious objections. Of these I will mention
four.