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What is the Principle of Utility (Utilitarianism)? What does it have to do with empiricism? Give an example of a utilitarian action.
Utilitarianism is a philosophical concept that asserts actions should maximize overall happiness while causing the least harm or pain to everyone involved. Essentially, an action is considered morally right if its consequences have the greatest
net happiness and benefit for the majority of those affected by
it.
Empiricism, on the other hand, is an approach that underscores the significance of sensory experience and empirical evidence as the foundation for knowledge and understanding. It emphasizes that knowledge is derived from direct observations. Utilitarianism relies on empiricism to utilize real-world observations and consequences in evaluating
the morality of actions.
An example of Utilitarianism, using an empiricist approach:
If a university is considering the implementation of a new policy to reduce car traffic on campus. The university would adopt an empirical approach by conducting surveys before and after implementing the policy to gauge people's experiences. They would observe the safety of the campus with the policy in effect and assess the air quality following the reduction of cars. The policy would be evaluated based on the level of happiness experienced by the majority of students. If the policy resulted in increased happiness and safety for the majority of students, it would be considered a morally right policy to implement.
The Second Categorical Imperative forbids us to treat another “merely as a means to an end.” Yet Kant would maintain that I can employ someone as a means to paint my house or knit me a sweater. How can the be?
The second categorical imperative stresses that we should not
benefit from people to reach our own goals and objectives with disregarding their well-being, self-worth, and autonomy. Consider the scenario where you hire someone to paint your house or knit you a sweater. You have two options:
1. Option 1 involves using their skills and services to complete
the task as quickly and cheaply as possible, making them work long hours to get the job done as soon as possible and possibly underpaying them. This option is better for you as it gets your goal done faster and in a cheaper manner. Kant would not approve of this option as it fal not fair for the workers and it treats workers primarily as a means to the employer's end and without taking into account the worker's well- being.
2. Option 2 is to use their skills and services, having them work reasonable hours with breaks and hydration and pay them fully for their work. This would align with the second categorical imperative as you are not violating the workers rights, self-worth, and autonomy. It does not treat the workers
as merely a tool to reach your own objectives and goals.
What is the theory of mechanism developed during the Enlightenment? What are the implications for the human body?
Theory of mechanism proposed that the natural world could be comprehended through mechanical principles to rejects ancient vitalism and that supernatural forces are the cause.
This theory states that the entire universe, including the human body, can be understood through mechanical principles with cause-and-effect relationships.
This is an important theory as its has a hand in shaping modern medicine and understanding the human body as it changed the way people viewed the human body. The human body used to be viewed as mysterious, and people did not understand how it functioned. However, the theory of mechanism viewed the human body as a machine with specific parts (organs) which has specific functions, etc. It allowed people to use cause and effect reasoning to understand the different functions within the human body.
How has illness often come to be seen as a moral failing? What event in the Judeo-Christian tradition is the associated with? What might an example of illness as moral failing be?
This idea of suffering as a consequence of moral failing has influenced how illness is sometimes viewed. Basically, in some
beliefs, it is held that people get sick due to their poor actions and choices, and they view illness as a form of punishment(COPD, Cancer, tumours etc.) .
One significant event in the Judeo-Christian tradition associated with the idea of illness is a result of moral failing is the story of Adam and Eve in Garden of Eden where Adam and Eve's disobedience and them eating from the tree of knowledge has led to their expulsion from paradise and introduced sin and suffering (evil and disease) into the world.
An example of illness as moral failing would be individuals with HIV/AIDS as in some religions and societies the individuals behaviours are deemed immortal hence their punishment is HIV/AIDS. Those individuals are sometimes blamed for their condition because it is viewed as a result of their immoral actions.
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