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date: 04 July 2022

Abstract and Keywords

Whether we choose to be act or rule consequentialists, to maximize value or be satisfied with a less demanding requirement, and even whether we require impartiality in our values, we need to decide what set of values we should commit ourselves to. In this chapter I will ask what intrinsic good or goods a consequentialist should value. I will start with a general point: what reasons are there for being a value monist rather than a value pluralist? Then, I will ask whether consequentialists should be concerned with what is good for someone or rather with what is good “for the world.” To answer this, I will discuss how best to understand the notion of welfare. Finally, I will consider different welfarist theories and suggest a possible candidate for the most promising one.

Keywords: intrinsic good, monism, pluralism, well-being, welfare, resonance, hedonism, pleasure

Katarzyna de Lazari-Radek

Katarzyna de Lazari-Radek is Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Łódz, Poland. She is a hedonistic utilitarian. Her main research interest focuses on the philosophy of Henry Sidgwick and Derek Parfit, as well as the concept of well-being and pleasure. Together with Peter Singer she wrote two books: The Point of View of the Universe (Oxford University Press, 2014) and Utilitarianism—A Very Short Introduction (Oxford University Press, 2017). Apart from academic work, she is keen to convey philosophical ideas to a wider audience, giving lectures and writing for popular magazines on how to live a good life.

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