Philosopher: The rational pursuit of happiness is quite different from always doing what one most strongly desires t...
MelodyJune 25, 2020
Answer B
I chose the correct answer (B), but I didn't think about it in the same way as in the explanation. The passage says "ordinary desires result in at least momentary happiness when the goals are achieved" so I diagrammed this sentence this way:
GA --> MH
But B says "Attaining the goal of ANY desire results in momentary happiness", which is why I knew B was wrong because "GA --> MH" is only for ordinary desires and not ANY.
Is this way of thinking correct?
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Thanks for the question! I think that way of thinking about it might get you in trouble in the future, and here’s why. This question is asking for something that could be true EXCEPT. In other words, the answer choice is going to be one that must be false (since that is what it means for something to not be a “could be true” option). What you have described, however, is something that “could be false,” and thus, could also be true, based on your logic. Just because GA—>MH applies to ordinary desires and not ANY doesn’t mean that it must be false that attaining the goal of any desire results in momentary happiness. IN order to get to that conclusion, we need to rely on the parts that connect compulsions and desires, and state that compulsions can’t lead to happiness. You happened to get the right answer choice this time, but that way of thinking might lead you to the wrong answer choice in the future.
Hope this helps! Feel free to ask any other questions that you might have.
