PHIL 1273 1nd Edition Lecture 6 Outline of Last Lecture I. Reflection on Nora Tilden CaseII. Three Types of Moral TheoryA. Actions1. Consequentialism2. Deontological EthicsB. Persons1. Virtue TheoryIII. UtilitarianismOutline of Current Lecture I. UtilitarianismA. BenthamB. MillsC. Discussion of UtilitarianismCurrent LectureI. Utilitarianism (continued)A. Bentham (father of utilitarianism) (continued)1. Action is right if it raises utility and wrong if it lowers utilitya. Right means that effects are goodb. Not agent’s own utility (selfish behavior), but the utility of all concernedi. Anyone affected by an action is part of the calculation of pleasure and painc. Taking net (weighing good and bad)i. Complex effectsii. Balance of pleasure over pain- Across a group- In an individual- Over time2. Consequentialistic logic3. Advantages of utilitarianisma. Seems like an objective standardThese notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute.i. Certain things make (normal) people feel good (food, shelter, health)ii. Basis for objective, rational arguments about right and wrongiii. Democratic – each counts for oneb. Utilitarianism in public policy (default view)i. How to decide what is right for society?ii. Decide what provides the greatest benefitB. J.S. Mills1. Raised to be spokesperson for utilitarianism2. Gave a utilitarian defense of freedom in On Liberty3. Refined Bentham’s view: distinguishes between higher and lower powersa. Bentham: if amount of pleasure received is the same, “pushpin is as good as poetry”i. Idea of quantity, NOT qualityii. Philosophy of the swineiii. Raises question of measuring pleasureb. Response: experience shows that some pleasures have higher quality than othersi. Mills’s ideaii. Sandel: different values other than pleasure exist in Mills’s point of view, adding to simple utilitarianismC. Discussion of Utilitarianism1. Not friendly to rightsa. Bentham: “nonsense on stilts”b. “scapegoat” problemsi. Nora Tilden caseii. Trolley problemsiii. Omelas
View Full Document
Unlocking...