Philosopher: The rational pursuit of happiness is quite different from always doing what one most strongly desires t...
Rebecca-AlvaradoSeptember 22, 2018
Help Please
Hello. This may be a silly question, but why can (E) not be the correct choice? I understand why (B) is the answer but (E) states, "All actions have long-term consequences" and the passage states that "our desires are usually focused on the short-term. Moreover, desires are sometimes compulsions". So wouldn't these compulsions be short-term, thus contradicting the notion that ALL actions have long-term consequences? Or is it incorrect because the passage doesn't mention "all actions"?
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@Rebecca-Alvarado there is nothing in the stimulus that conflicts with the statement, "all actions have long-term consequences."
A desire is not the same thing as an action and the fact that our desires are usually focused on the short-term is not inconsistent with all actions having long-term consequences.
For this reason, (E) is eliminated. Hope that helps!
aligeNovember 11, 2018
I have a similar question. I understand why (B) is correct, but (E) seems to directly contradict with information in the passage. Doesn't "...while ordinary desires result in at least momentary happiness" mean that some actions have short-term consequences?
MehranNovember 11, 2018
As explained directly above with respect to answer (E), (1) a desire is not the same thing as an action, and (2) the fact that our desires are usally focused on the short-term is not *inconsistent* with "all actions have long-term consequences."
