Please answer both part A. and part B. of the question below. QUESTION #1: Part A. In class, we discussed possible interpretations of the doctrine of desireless action. Most of these interpretations divide desires into two groups: (1) permissible (“good”) desires and (2) impermissible (“bad”) desires. These kinds of theories might be called “some desires interpretations” since they take the prohibition on desire to prohibit only some desires, but allow some other desires. Why does it seem necessary to draw a distinction between good and bad desires in this context? (State and explain the initial problem or tension that the distinction between good and bad desires is meant to resolve. Put another way: why not think the doctrine of desireless action simply means to prohibit all desires?) Next, state and explain the three some desires interpretations discussed in class. For each interpretation, what are the “good” desires, and what are the “bad” desires? Explain each distinction and offer examples of each side of the distinction. (NOTE: To avoid confusion, I am not asking you here about the three problems with desire in part A. [Those three problems, again, are that desire (1) causes suffering directly, (2) undermines moral agency, and (3) produces karma/merit and demerit.]) Part B. Which of these three interpretations discussed in class seems the most plausible to you in your own life? (In other words, which some desires interpretation seems to draw the most plausible distinction between desires that are problematic and desires that are not problematic for you in your life?) Explain with clear, plausible examples of “good” desires that do not seem problematic in your life and “bad” desires that do seem problematic. What do all the good desires have in common, if anything? (It might be that they share nothing in common. If so, explain why.) What do all the bad desires have in common, if anything? Lastly, do the “good” desires on your list avoid the first problem with desire – the problem of desire leading to suffering more or less directly? Why or why not?
