β Scribed by Peter Vallentyne
No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.
Act teleological theories are theories that judge an action permissible just in case its outcome is maximally good) It is usually assumed that act teleological theories cannot be past-regarding, i.e., make the permissibility of actions depend on what the past was like (e.g., on what promises were made, what wrong doings were done, and more generally on what actions were performed)) I shall argue that this is not so. Although some act teleological theories, such as classical act utilitarianism, are not past-regarding, there are other types of act teleological theories that are past-regarding.
Classical act utilitarianism, a paradigmatic teleological theory, is not past-regarding. It bases the permissibility of actions only on considerations of present and future happiness. It allows, indeed requires, the "punishment" of innocent persons, when so doing will maximize present and future happiness. The past is irrelevant. In particular, whether or not the person committed a crime in the past is irrelevant.
Consider, for instance, the following version of a now classic example introduced by H.J. McCloskey. a In a certain town there have been a series of violent crimes. The inhabitants of the town are convinced that the local pawnshop owner committed the crimes, and unless he is arrested and executed, there will be massive riots in which great numbers will die, be injured, and otherwise suffer. The pawnshop owner, however, is innocent, and the local sheriff knows this. The sheriff is confronted with the choice of (1) framing and executing the pawnshop owner, and thereby avoiding the riots, or (2) not doing so, and thereby allowing the riots to take place. Because framing and executing the innocent pawnshop owner would produce more happiness (and less suffering), classical act utilitarianism directs the sheriff to do so. This directive is based solely on considerations of present and future happiness. Nothing about the past is relevant. In particular, whether or not the pawnshop owner committed the crimes is irrelevant.
π SIMILAR VOLUMES
Teleological and anthropomorphic explanations are considered illegitimate by many biology educators. This article is a position paper advocating the removal of the taboo regarding anthropomorphism and teleology in biology education. This position is defended by several arguments: of science educato