The Chronicle: Colloquy: Responses

Nick Schulz, Singer would say, as would I, that if there are two options open to you, A and B, and if the ONLY difference between them is that A creates more pain (or less pleasure) than B, then it is a logical truth than you morally ought to prefer B. That means that pain and pleasure are morally significant, and this being a "logical truth" means that we simply can't interpret what you're saying if you say "There is nothing immoral about choosing A". For example, a libertarian might say, "The fact that I must choose A or B doesn't show that I ought to choose B. For I don't have any obligation to spare anyone any pain." If you're like Singer and me, you simply cannot interpret what that person is saying. This sort of Libertarianism is nonsense. (I surmise but cannot promise that Singer would follow me this far.)

So, there is no argument to answer your question other than "By definition, pain and pleasure are moral factors." If you are concerned that other factors might override considerations of pain and pleasure in many cases, then notice that this doesn't make pleasure and pain irrelevant. It just means that sometimes they are outweighed.

And if you're concerned that utilitarianism is false, you're right. It is false. That's where I don't follow Singer. But of course pain and pleasure count.

: -- Jim Ryan, philosophy prof, Huron College (posted 3/28, 5:15 p.m., E.S.T.)

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