Category: Philosophy

 Briefly explain what utilitarian ethics is and the process one would go through to make a decision based on utilitarian principles.

Utilitarian Ethics and Decision Making

Briefly explain what utilitarian ethics is and the process one would go
through to make a decision based on utilitarian principles.

Looking at decision-making in the public safety realm, in what type of
decision might utilitarian principles yield the best results or, at very least, be necessitated by the situation?

Finally, how broadly are people assigned stakeholder status in a public
safety utilitarian decision?

Could you and your family be stakeholders or would you, and by extension them, be excluded from stakeholder status because you “signed up for the job?”

In other words, as a public servant, should what is “good” for you be part of the calculation?

https://www.ucl.ac.uk/bentham-project/about-jeremy-bentham/auto-iconhttps://www.equip.org/article/ethics-theories-utilitarianism-vs-deontological-
ethics/https://www.scu.edu/ethics/ethics-resources/ethical-decision-making/calculating-
consequences-the-utilitarian-approach/
https://www.utilitarianism.net/types-of-utilitarianism#the-definition-of-utilitarianism

What do you think about this independence — this call for becoming self-reliant, and self-dependent when it comes to knowledge, truth and, finally, morality itself?

In this text you’re reading, and in this “Preface” in particular, Kant talks about the need for a “pure moral philosophy” (see p. 2 of “Preface”). Do you think that this “pure moral philosophy” leads us to the kind of “independence” and freedom that I’m talking about above — something we see Socrates striving for?

What do you think about this independence — this call for becoming self-reliant, and self-dependent when it comes to knowledge, truth and, finally, morality itself?

Analyze and explain Epicurus’ famous proclamation:Do you agree or disagree with this assessment of the good life, and why?

Unit 2 Applied Philosophy Paper

Analyze and explain Epicurus’ famous proclamation: Nature because she has made what is necessary easy to supply, and what is not easy unnecessary…The right understanding of these facts enables us to refer all choice and avoidance to the health of the body and the soul’s freedom from disturbance, since this is the aim of the life of blessedness.”

Do you agree or disagree with this assessment of the good life, and why?

What distinctions can be made between descriptive and normative ethics in the arguments for egoism?Compare and contrast Divine Command Theory and Natural Law ethics. Which is more suited to universal moral laws in contemporary American society? Explain.

Focused Questions:

Summarize the pros and cons for Ethical Relativism and Ethical Absolutism. What distinctions can be made between descriptive and normative ethics in the arguments for relativism?

Summarize the pros and cons for Ethical Egoism and Ethical Altruism.

What distinctions can be made between descriptive and normative ethics in the arguments for egoism?

Compare and contrast Divine Command Theory and Natural Law ethics. Which is more suited to universal moral laws in contemporary American society? Explain.

Using the online resources, describe either the Metaethics of Nietzsche or Civil Disobedience exemplified through Gandhi and King. (Choose either/or as these are two different subjects.)
hthttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5vxabBmyywtps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOoffXFpAlU

Write an essay in which you argue Vaidya’s claim that the indeterminacy of ethical theory is not problematic is flawed.

Anand Vaidya argues that it is a mistake to maintain that business ethics is unintelligible because ethical theories are indeterminate. Write an essay in which you argue Vaidya’s claim that the indeterminacy of ethical theory is not problematic is flawed.

What will the captain do if he chooses Utilitarianism and if he chooses Deontology? what would you do in his place? Why?

Utilitarianism or deontology

The captain of a boat is smuggling a family of refugees from Nazi Germany. A German naval boat comes alongside the captain’s boat and an officer asks if there are any refugees aboard. If the captain says “yes,” the Nazi officer may come aboard and shoot them. If the captain says “no” he will, in all likelihood, continue on his way and leave the captain and refugees alone.

What will the captain do if he chooses Utilitarianism and if he chooses Deontology? what would you do in his place? Why?

 

What if your life shortened as a result? What if your life threatened? What of mother’s life? Does it matter if it sounds like kidnapping?

Would it matter if it took 9 yrs, or rest of your life? (a “pity” for mother, but “right to life” outweighs “right to decide”?…you can never unplug?)

Does it matter if it sounds like kidnapping? (and rape by analogy) {Opponents don’t argue that this changes anything in regard to the “right to life” of the child/the life valued regardless of violence here

What if your life shortened as a result? What if your life threatened? What of mother’s life?

Describe the stakeholders in (persons affected by) the problem and how they would be impacted by each of your alternatives.

phi6

Identify a significant moral problem that was discussed in, exposed by, or even hinted at in your chosen article.

Consider the possible alternative solutions to the problem you identified. Describe the stakeholders in (persons affected by) the problem and how they would be impacted by each of your alternatives.

Select a moral theory from those that have been presented so far in the course (Virtue Ethics or Utilitarianism) that you will use to identify the best alternative among those you described. Explain why that theory is well-suited to analyzing the particular problem you identified.