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Since we spent so much time in class last Wednesday discussing and unpacking the differences between goal-based, rights-based, and duty-based theories of morality, I was especially interested in how Raz handled this issue. Instead of arguing against the theory of a rights-based morality by positing a goal-based or duty-based theory of morality, he posits another type of morality, arguing that “among its fundamental precepts are to be found values, rights, and duties” (183). This “pluralistic” morality system seems, at least on its face, to be some type of hybrid between the three systems we discussed in class. The question I’m left with is this: is Raz’s pluralistic system something completely new, or is simply a hybrid system? Is the pluralistic system really something new, or is it simply something constructed by Raz as a means to further his argument?
We’ve also talked in class a few times about the argument that rights-based theories are inherently individualistic. I really appreciated what Raz had to contribute to the debate. As we said in class last week, much of our conversation in this arena has been tied back to Wellman’s conception of solidarity rights at the beginning of the semester. Raz offers a very different treatment of collectivity in his defense of a pluralistic morality system. Still, I’m having trouble tying the distinctions he draws between instrumental and inherent goods back to the broader argument that he is making about collectivity. How do the two relate?
Mental Models of Purpose of College
2 years ago
I was confused on the "goods" discussion as well. My guess is that goods are a product of the individualism.
ReplyDeleteTo me, this sounds like a Hobbes-based article. What I took it to be saying is that personal autonomy undos this notion of how any moral right can be duty-based, because humans want to naturally think only of themselves and not of others. I guess I take it as that is why you can't have a purely duty-based right, and pure goal based theory because all of the goals of the autonomous people would be different, and based on their own goals instead of a collective goal.
It seems to me that Raz is saying that someone is always going to be left out unless we have this combined system.
Ashley