Most People Would Not Desire Their Loved Ones to Get

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The Answer is The fact that most people would not desire their loved ones to get lobotomies, even if it would make them happier, raises a challenge to hedonism because it suggests that there are values and considerations beyond just maximizing pleasure. Hedonism is the ethical theory that the ultimate goal of life is to maximize pleasure and minimize pain. However, this scenario shows that people prioritize other values, such as autonomy, dignity, and personal identity, over simply maximizing happiness.

The hedonist might respond by arguing that the reason people would not want their loved ones to get lobotomies is because they are not fully informed about the consequences and do not understand that it would ultimately lead to greater happiness. They might also argue that the discomfort and distress caused by the procedure itself would outweigh any potential long-term happiness. Additionally, the hedonist might claim that people's aversion to lobotomies is based on irrational fears or societal taboos, rather than a rational consideration of what would truly lead to the most pleasure.

However, this response may not be convincing to everyone. It seems unlikely that people's aversion to lobotomies is solely based on ignorance or irrational fears. The idea that there are values beyond pleasure, such as autonomy and personal identity, is deeply ingrained in many ethical systems and is not easily dismissed. Additionally, the idea that maximizing pleasure is the ultimate goal of life may not align with many people's intuitions about what is truly valuable and meaningful in life. Therefore, while the hedonist may have a response to this challenge, it may not fully address the underlying concerns about the limitations of a purely pleasure-based ethical theory.

Most People Would Not Desire Their Loved Ones to Get

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