The Role of Hollywood’s Guilds and Unions in Dealing With the Rip-Off Artists
Actually, the idea of an ethical Hollywood is not such an oxymoron. Hollywood already has ethics. The question is what kind.
Kantian ethics advise following the categorical imperative; every act must be made as if it were to become universal law. If Hollywood’s idea is to screw others and avoid being screwed yourself, it’s not Kantian.
Utilitarianism advocates the greatest good for the greatest amount of people. Hollywood strikes me as an every-man-for-himself type of town. That’s not it.
Epicureanism holds that the pleasure of serenity (ataraxia) is the highest good, and all acts should be in pursuit of that. There’s a lot of adjectives I may use to describe the Hollywood temperament, but serene isn’t one of them. Nope, not that.
Hedonism holds that sensual pleasure is the highest good. I think we’re on to something.
PETER LEFEVRE
Huntington Beach
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