A Case Or Thought Experiment Where Act Utilitarianism Essay

Consider a case or thought experiment where act utilitarianism seems to give the wrong answer. How do you think the act utilitarian should deal with this case? Act utilitarianism is a form of utilitarianism that is derived from the greatest happiness principle of utilitarianism, which is defines as â€Å"actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness† (cite, got from lecture slides). Happiness and reverse happiness in this definition stand for pleasure and pain. Act utilitarianism measures the net pleasure of an action. If this net pleasure is positive, the action is morally right, but if this net pleasure is negative, the action is morally wrong. In most situations, act utilitarianism is morally correct, but that is not always the case. In this paper, I will explain how political power can be manipulated through the majority and minorities of a country’s population and how that can lead to the oppression of minorities, but also be morally right under act utilitarianism. â€Å"As mentioned above, act utilitarianism uses pleasure minus pain to determine the amount of pleasure that will come from a certain action. If an action creates more pleasure than pain, then that action is considered to promote happiness† (Mill pg.). Act utilitarianism comes from the philosopher, John Stuart Mill. This theory of act utilitarianism derives from the greatest happiness principle. Actions that promote happiness is anotherShow MoreRelatedA Defense Of Abortion By Judith Thomson1678 Words   |  7 Pageslife of an unborn fetus has priority, and thus abortion is morally impermissible as it violates the fetus’ right to life. In her article â€Å"A Defense of Abortion†, Judith Thomson argues that abortion is morally permissible under the certain conditions where the rights of the fetus fail to surpass a mother’s right of choice. For the sake of her argument, Thomson allows the assumption that a fetus is a person, and instead attacks the premise that the fetus’ right to life is stronger than that of a mother’sRead MoreEthical Theories And Principles Of The Ethics1576 Words   |  7 Pagesmatter; this is because according to deontologists one is right in acting a certain way only if one acts for the right reason. To dive deeper into deontological ethics one must discuss Immanuel Kant for he is the philosopher who represents the enlightenment and deontology. According to Kant, one must figure out what the right thing to do by â€Å"identifying the requirements of the universal moral code† and act â€Å"on that basis, rather than because it happens to be in one’s interest or one happens to feel likeRead MoreUtilitarianism : An Ethical Theory Essay1731 Words   |  7 PagesUtilitarianism Utilitarianism is one of the most powerful and persuasive approaches to normative ethics in the history of philosophy. Even though It was not fully articulated until the 19th century, proto-Utilitarian positions can be recognized and discerned throughout the history of ethical theory. (Driver, Julia. â€Å"The History of Utilitarianism.† Stanford University. Stanford University, 2009. Web. 01 Oct. 2016). Utilitarianism is an Ethical Theory that was a result of combining aspects of ConsequentialismRead MoreMaking Decisions about Ethical Matters1742 Words   |  7 Pagesa complicated and well thought-out process. To make things smoother and of a more efficient manner, there have been various systems put in place to provide rules and guidelines as to how to ensure that what is decided is morally right. Here, we will take a look at the view of utilitarianism, and discuss an important flaw it presents us with. Many articles include discussions that look at this in great depth, where it appears the once highly renowned system of utilitarianism has revealed to us variousRead MoreEssay about The Ethics of Torture1633 Words   |  7 Pages In the United States legal system, torture is currently defined as â€Å"an act committed by a person acting under the color of law specifically intended to inflict severe physical or mental pain or suffering (other than pain or suffering incidental to lawful sanctions) upon another person within his custody or physical control.† as defined by Office of the Law Revision Counsel, U.S. House of Representatives (US Code, 1) Though this is a seemingly black and white definition, the conditional â€Å"†¦otherRead MoreThe Trolley Case : An Ethical Thought Experiment1057 Words   |  5 PagesConsequentialism The Trolley Case is an ethical thought experiment that seeks to find the â€Å"right† solution in killing people. This thought experiment explains that there is a train coming down the tracks on course to run right into five people. You stand next to a lever which can switch the tracks so that only one person will die. The only options you have are to do nothing and allow five people to die, or pull the lever so that only one person will die. In Trolley Case 2, you can save five peopleRead MoreCorporate Social Responsibility And Corporate Ethics1468 Words   |  6 Pagesof a company and social environment of a company (Fischer, 2004). LO1 Analyse concepts and theories of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and business ethics When discussing ethical theories, there is a mutual recognition of two main schools of thought. The deontological sight is that the correct action is one which is naturally right, and focuses on the choice about the decision making capacity to achieve the duty and responsibilities to the parties involved. Immanuel Kant (1724-1804), a GermanRead MoreThe Debate Between Pro Life And Pro Choice868 Words   |  4 Pagesmedia and the morality of abortion scrutinized under the eye of third wave feminism, which has reclaimed the 1970’s slogan of ‘The Right to Choose’. The following essay intends to discuss how abortion is always an option and never a morally wrong act, as it is the mother’s choice to do with her body what she wishes and such the fetus has no right to leech off the mother when the host is not willing. In this discussion one shall, as Thomson did in ‘A Defence of Abortion’(1971), accept the stanceRead MoreEthics and Moral Theory3716 Wo rds   |  15 Pagesphilosophical study of Morality. What, then, is a moral theory? A theory is a structured set of statements used to explain (or predict) a set of facts or concepts.à  A moral theory, then, explains why a certain action is wrong -- or why we ought to act in certain ways.à Ãƒ  In short, it is a theory of how we determine right and wrong conduct.à  Also, moral theories provide the framework upon which we think and discuss in a reasoned way, and so evaluate, specific moral issues. Seen in this light, it becomesRead More The Harm Principle in the 21st Century Essay3465 Words   |  14 Pagesof which I speak is opportunity for action, rather than action itself. If, although I enjoy the right to walk through open doors, I prefer not to do so, but sit still and vegetate, I am not thereby rendered less free. Freedom is the opportunity to act, not action itself. (Berlin (1969), p.xlii). Some significant criticisms of, Mills Harm Principle have been expressed over the years. I intend to consider the three leading arguments, 1. VAGUENESS. 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Symbols Hills Like White Elephants Free Essays

Martin Chi English 102 Essay #2 Professor Crawford Hills like White Elephants In â€Å"Hills Like White Elephants†, Ernest Hemingway, does not reveal the source of conflict between the young man and young woman in the story, but it is implied that the conflict is centered on the decision of abortion. The goal of the man in the story is to convince the young woman to have an abortion procedure. The goal of the young woman is to do whatever it takes to make her partner happy and thus preserve their relationship. We will write a custom essay sample on Symbols Hills Like White Elephants or any similar topic only for you Order Now The three main symbols are the hills, the white elephants and the rail road station. In the story, Jig looked at hills and said, â€Å" They looked like white elephants. † The man replied, â€Å" I’ve never seen one. † Then she replied, â€Å"No, you wouldn’t have. † (line 9-11). The hills symbolize the big obstacles that we must climb, but are not enormous mountains. This represents the fact that the girl’s baby is a major obstacle in her life, but ti is not the end of her life and she will make it through. Hills are also viewpoints to look out from, but also block the view for those in the valley. This represent how in the story Jig looks at the hills and sees opportunity, yuet at the same time the man looks at it and sees his vision of a positive and happy future blocked by the enormous obstacle of a child. Hills are also beautiful, natural and completely stationary. This shows that the baby will make them settle down and stay together. The author uses hills because pregnant mothers belly is a bit a hill itself. Being pregnant ties the mother down and makes her less mobile and more stationary. The element of the white elephant is symbolic of the baby. A white elephant is a precious item that has a cost which perhaps surpasses it usefulness. Jig has received a gift which is, at this time in her life, useless to her. It is a gift that could be priceless to another. The white elephant also symbolizes the fact that the man said he has never seen white elephants before. This is because he is not open to considering the possibility of keeping the child and wants the girl to have the abortion procedure. The rail road is symbolic of being at the crossroads of life during a time of crisis. The American man and the girl cannot stay at the station forever. They are travelling and there will be change. There must be a decision of where to go next. All of this is symbolic of the decision to keep the child or not. All travelling has a cost and so does the outcome of this decision. To either keep or abort the child is a costly decision. The young woman, Jig, shows herself to be very dependent upon her male counterpart throughout the story. She asks for his input on even the simplest of tasks, such as the choice and number of her beverages. Her behavior can be interpreted to be a sign of insecurity more than anything else. Jig trusts his judgment, feels secure in his company and seems willing to do anything to keep him around. When pushed on the issue of the operation, Jig shows no real concern for her own health or mental well-being, stating categorically, â€Å"I don’t care about me. † Jig’s main concern is whether or not she can make her partner happy so that they will â€Å"Be all right and be happy. It is doubtful that Jig went through with the procedure with a clear conscience, which is why she was so insistent that they would not discuss the matter any further. â€Å" Hills Like White Elephants† is a story about crisis. The American man and Jig the girl have a decision to make and there is no easy way out. Even making no decision is a decision. We all can easily relate to being in thi s type of situation. Hemingway, Ernest. â€Å" Hills Like White Elephant† . † The Norton Introduction to Literature. New York: W. W. Norton , 2010. 117-18. Print How to cite Symbols Hills Like White Elephants, Essay examples

Lone Star free essay sample

This paper is about the film Lone Star discussing various aspects of the movie. John Sayles movie, Lone Star is about life in a sleepy Texas town. This paper discusses the genre of the movie, the style used and how the characters are excellently used to portray the life in a border town. It looks at corruption, tension and hostilities as a result of the location of the town. Lone Star is John Sayles best movie yet, a richly textured, multi-racial, multi-generational examination of a Texas town. The writer/director Sayles brilliantly combines drama, romance, mystery, and social observation into a one third love story with a twisted one-third-murder mystery. Exploring the lives of half a dozen people in a Texas border town (i.e. border) Sayles ties them all together in his script with discovery of a skeleton in the desert that brings the skeleton out if every closet in the sleepy little berg. We will write a custom essay sample on Lone Star or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Two off-duty sergeants from an Army post near the town of Frontera find skeleton remains and a rusty Sheriffs badge. The current sheriff of Frontera Sam Deeds, son of late legendary lawman Buddy Deeds, begins an investigation. Sam quickly learns that the remains are those of the corrupt sheriff Charley Wade, his father reputed to have run out of town. Sams relationship with his father was hostile and he went out of Frontera and came back only after his fathers death.