Glantz 3 markers

Question 1

Briefly explain why Aristotle thinks that pleasure is not the only good.

Answer 1

• Pleasure is not the only thing we aim at (students might phrase this as ‘pleasure is not our only
  end’).
• There are other things – such as knowing and being virtuous – which we do, as a matter of fact,
  seek out.
• We seek out these things even if they bring us no pleasure.
• The pleasure they bring us is not why we seek them.
• Therefore they are final ends (in themselves) and not means to pleasure.
• Therefore pleasure cannot be the only good.

Question 2

What does Kant mean by ‘hypothetical imperative’?

Answer 2

• An imperaive is a statement commanding a course of action
• Hypothetical imperatives are ‘If… then’…’ statements that tell us what we ought to do to achieve our
  goals
• A hypothetical imperative takes the form ‘if you want X then you should do Y’
• For example “If you want to catch the 3 o’clock clock train then you should leave now’
  .