Nagel Concludes That "If Results Were the Only Basis for Public

question 22

Essay

Nagel concludes that "if results were the only basis for public morality then it would be possible to justify anything, including torture and massacre, in the service of sufficiently large interests," stating that limiting factors will continue to be constitutional protections and constraints of individual morality. Do you find these protective limits to be sufficient in restraining ruthlessness to such a degree? Why or why not? Explain your answer.

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Definitions:

Authority Figure

An individual who holds a position of power, influence, or respect, often within a hierarchical structure, and whose directives are expected to be followed.

Milgram's Research

A series of social psychology experiments conducted by Stanley Milgram, which measured the willingness of participants to obey an authority figure who instructed them to perform acts conflicting with their personal conscience.

Test Drive

The process of operating a vehicle under normal conditions to evaluate its performance, quality, or reliability, often before making a purchase decision.

Foot-In-The-Door

A psychological technique where agreement to a small request increases the likelihood of agreement to a larger request later.