Browsing by Subject "time"

Assuming that living is not always categorically good or categorically bad for the life’s subject, ‘wellbeing’ must be a value that is measured on a non-ratio scale. This entails that there is no significant zero point on the wellbeing level scale. The arbitrary zero point on a non-ratio scale does not signify a lack. Thus, the states of living and non-living are incomparable from the perspective of wellbeing-related interests, for a subject does not have any wellbeing level while not alive. A similar argument was put forward already by Epicurus and Lucretius. The concepts of ‘a life worth living’ and ‘a life not worth living’ are flawed. Birth and death, as coming into existence and ceasing to exist, can never either harm or benefit a life’s subject wellbeing-wise. This is true a priori. As wellbeing levels are non-ratio values, they do not cumulate. Hence, it makes little sense in trying to compare the wellbeing values of wholes, like complete lives, especially if they are of different duration. The thesis starts from a premise of ‘wellbeing’ relating to moments of time, this being the undisputed part of the different interpretations of the term. Only after carefully examining the concept of a ‘wellbeing level’ and its features, a theory is built to address the question of how to compare values of temporal wholes. In the process, all of the possible symmetrical and asymmetrical theories of the personal value of birth and death are laid out, and their relationship with the concept of ‘wellbeing’ is analyzed. The term ‘biosignificantism’ is introduced to refer to a theory according to which birth and death may both be either beneficial or detrimental to a subject from a wellbeing-point-of-view. The claims of biosignificantism are refuted by demonstrating why a significant zero point on a non-ratio scale cannot be defined. The type of non- cumulative wellbeing that a non-ratio scale entails is logically combined with features that pose some limitations on how wellbeing may be affected either causally or non-causally. These limitations are outlined. Finally, the broad implications of a theory that is named ‘bioindifferentism’ and that reduces personal value on non-ratio wellbeing are formulated. The relevant literature that is utilized in the research is largely divided: mostly separate fields of research have been devoted to the relationship of birth and wellbeing, and, on the other hand, the relationship of death and wellbeing. This master’s thesis brings the issues together. Derek Parfit’s Reasons and Persons (1984) and Ben Bradley’s Well-Being & Death (2009) are central references. Past research has been largely conducted in terms of moral philosophy which seems to have led to a lot of confusions. The thesis’s axiological focus is intended to bring the discussion back to the atom level to lay down the groundwork for also ethics.

This thesis examine young college student's consumption resources and consumption. I study how consumption resources are related to college student's consumption. The research has been carried out qualitative, phenomenography research method, where object of examination are student's views of consumption, use of time, student loan use and themes between essential and luxurious consumption. I used interviews as a method of collecting data, which suits for a phenomenography research. The empirical material consist of 13 student's interviews. I analysed material by using content analysis and typecasting. Available resources, such as income, are important for consumers. Students who took part research have low income level compared to the rest population. Financial aid to students consist of student grant, housing benefit and student loan. Majority of interviewees drew student loan in addition to student grant. Nearly all interviewees received financial support from their parents. Housing cost took the majority of interviewees money. The students lived mainly in apartment building. Time is addition to money other household's central resources, because it analyse household daily action. When examine meaning of time in young college students' consumption appear that many students have four sector in regard to the use of time. This sectors are work, study, housework and free time. As a result of study student's temporal resources are scanty, because working is secondary. Due to small incomes and temporal resources young college student's consumption is emphasized to essential consumption as food, housing costs and bills. Young's weak economic situation cause that young use consumption credit or loan to essential consumption or luxurious consumption. This may lead to get into debt if the use of money not control. Students spend money on luxurious consumption, as bars, restaurants and student parties. They also spend their money on hobbies, different events and journeys too. Students draw student loan in order to achieve better standard of living.