What makes someone's life go best

Abstract

This appendix presents arguments against various theories about self-interest, including Hedonism, Desire-Fulfillment Theory, and Objective List Theory. The author criticizes Hedonism by claiming that pleasure and pain are not intrinsically good and bad but are determined by their relation to our desires. Similarly, the author rejects Desire-Fulfillment Theory, arguing that it is implausible to claim that fulfilling all desires, including those we would prefer not to have, leads to a better life. The Objective List Theory is criticized for appealing to facts about value, which the author considers problematic. Ultimately, the author suggests that a more plausible account of self-interest would combine elements of Hedonism and Objective List Theory, acknowledging that what is good for someone is not simply pleasure or objective goods but a composite of both, alongside a strong desire for these goods. – AI-generated abstract.