Final answer:
The three principal difficulties with goal-based ethics are the question of intrinsic value, the question of maximizing intrinsic value, and the restriction to a small subset of welfare functions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The three principal difficulties with goal-based ethics are:
- The question of what has intrinsic value: One of the difficulties in goal-based ethics is determining what has intrinsic value. Intrinsic value refers to the inherent worth or goodness of something, independent of its consequences. Different people and cultures may have different opinions on what has intrinsic value.
- The question of what actions or policies would maximize intrinsic value: Another difficulty in goal-based ethics is determining which actions or policies would maximize the intrinsic value. This involves weighing the potential outcomes and consequences of different actions and policies and determining which ones would result in the greatest overall intrinsic value.
- The restriction to a small subset of welfare functions: Goal-based ethics often restricts itself to a small subset of the available welfare functions. Welfare functions are mathematical formulas or equations used to assign values to different outcomes or states of affairs. Relying on a limited set of welfare functions may limit the scope and applicability of goal-based ethics.