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UT Knoxville PHIL 252 - Review of Utilitarianism
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Phil 252 Lecture 3 Outline of Last Lecture I. Moral Theory DefinitionII. Types of Moral Theoriesa. How it beganb. Experiment Machinec. Mill’s ProofIII. UtilitarianismOutline of Current Lecture I. Review of UtilitarianismII. Kaunt’s ViewIII. Humanity Formula of the Categorical Imperativea. Definitionb. Weakness of the theoryCurrent LectureI. Review of UtilitarianismA. The runaway trolley example from Friday discussion classes is a classic example of Utilitarianism decision-making. B. When it comes to education, organ donating and government policies, Utilitarianism is usually the Moral Theory that is used to make decisions. a. Doctor Transplant example: A doctor has 5 patients who need organs, so he kills one homeless man and gives the man’s organs to all of his patients so they can live. i. Kauntian view says that that is murder and it is wrong. ii. Utilitarian view says that it is not that bad because more good comes than bad. (More pleasure than pain).II. Kaunt’s View a.While some acts may bring about happiness and pleasure, if the act brings pain to someone other than you it is wrong. Bad things are bad even if they bring youhappiness.i.There are certain rights that everyone has and we may not disregard them no matter how much happiness it would bring. 1.More in line with our Constitution. These 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.2.Any law that goes against these basic rights is null and void. ii.No person should be killed, belittled, disrespected or mistreated for the common good because everyone has the same basic rights.1.Opposite view point of Utilitarianism III.Humanity Formula of the Categorical Imperative:a.“Treat humanity in oneself and others always as an end in itself never merely as a means.”i.Kaunt’s Theoryii.“Humanity” is defined as having rational nature. 1.Relates back to the moral compass theory, everyone has it, how we got it doesn’t matter.iii.Kaunt believed that the “End in itself” is broken up into two things:1.Price: things that can be traded for their equivalenta.Example: If I hurt you and you sue me, I pay you X amount of money to make up for your pain. That makes your pain something of price (I can give you something in return to make up for your pain). 2.Dignity: an objectively valuable aspect of ourselves that cannot be traded off for something of price. a.According to this theory you are never allowed to give up your dignity (or to ruin some one else’s) for something of price value. b.Values Respect for people. 3.It is your job to protect your own and others sense of dignity (since dignity is on a higher plane of value).a.i.e Suicide and murder: By abolishing your own or someone else’s dignity you are wrong.4.Dignity makes people even in the sense that EVERYONE has dignity.b.The Weakness of the theoryi.What if someone is brain dead? Do they still have a rational nature? 1.Most Kauntian philosophers bite the bullet and say that brain dead people do not have rational nature, but as people they still deserve some basic rights, just not the full amount that rational nature awards them. 2.Others say that it is not possible to tell if someone who is brain dead has rational nature, so they should still be awarded the full rights that go with having rational nature and dignity. ii.How should we treat animals?1.Kaunt said that they done have dignity since they are not rational. He claims that animals are only valuable because we make them valuable. a.This is why Animal Rights activists use Utilitarianism. iii.While brain dead people and animals are up for debate, the theory still says that the dignity of persons is not to be promoted, but respected, there should never be a price you would take to violate someone’s


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UT Knoxville PHIL 252 - Review of Utilitarianism

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