Risk and Self-Command-

A detailed Summary of Risk and Self-Command-

In our lives, it is important to exercise self-command.

However, we should not be so concerned with the future that we stifle

the present. The question becomes what balance should we strike

between self-command and risks? What kinds of risks are acceptable or

unacceptable? In this essay, we will use two examples of risks to show

the distinction between the two and arrive at a conclusion as to the

balance one should have between risk and self command. The first

example we will use is of a person who spends his life savings on a

lottery ticket and does not win the lottery. The second is of a person

who spends his life savings on a hunch regarding a cure for AIDS, a

hunch that is false. Before we make this distinction, however, it is

necessary to define the terms acceptable and unacceptable risks.

There are several ways in which one could define which risks

are acceptable. One could say, for example, that the only acceptable

risk is one for which the odds of success are greater than the odds of

failure. Another definition of acceptable risk might be a risk that

does not harm one's future. We might also say that the only acceptable

For the most part though, all the answers would be consistent with one

AIDS, it would greatly increase the general happiness. Masses of

suffering people and their loved ones would be much happier. Even

spending one's life savings on an AIDS cure have more moral worth

ticket and losing or spending the same sum on a false hunch regarding

which is rationally thought out (Thomas, lecture).

Furthermore, we will set the odds such that one has a better chance of

some of them do not offer guarantees (indeed, many are experimental)

one has to draw 6 numbers out of 46 (a probability that is very low).

AIDS would be a doctor with sufficient experience in the field. It

increase the common happiness (Mill, Utilitarianism). The AIDS cure is

death would increase several victims' happiness. We see this today,

increasing the moral good of the risk, an idea which is based on John

Now that we have several definitions of acceptable risks, we

lottery. This case, although quite valid, is not very interesting. In

Approximate Word count = 997
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Science

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