I think you are touching on some of the limits of the utilitarian philosophy that the EA movement grew out of.
JS Mill attempted to rectify some of the problems you allude to by distinguishing between 'higher' and 'lower' pleasures (i.e. the opiates argument).
But Sidgwick later argued that psychology (pleasure / suffering) could not form a foundation for which utilitarian rules could be derived.
So yes, I think you are right that we can agree on some actions that are altruistic, but whether we can explain WHY they are altruistic using utilitarian ethics is another matter entirely :)
Hi cdc482,
I think you are touching on some of the limits of the utilitarian philosophy that the EA movement grew out of.
JS Mill attempted to rectify some of the problems you allude to by distinguishing between 'higher' and 'lower' pleasures (i.e. the opiates argument).
But Sidgwick later argued that psychology (pleasure / suffering) could not form a foundation for which utilitarian rules could be derived.
So yes, I think you are right that we can agree on some actions that are altruistic, but whether we can explain WHY they are altruistic using utilitarian ethics is another matter entirely :)