Ethics and Values / Unit 7 Ethics 320 short lesson, about 20 seconds
The Base-Desires Objection
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The idea
The base-desires objection: satisfying trivial or pointless desires — counting blades of grass, memorizing phone books — fills a want without improving a life.
In practice
Rawls's counter: a brilliant man whose sole desire is counting lawn grass. Every desire satisfied, daily; call the life enviable if you can.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
Builds on
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