A different way of thinking about ethics was developed by the classical utilitarian Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill. Clarify Mill’s quotation on the principle of Utilitarianism, “The utilitarian doctrine is that happiness is desirable, and the only thing desirable, as an end; all other things being desirable as means to that end.” (John Stuart Mill, Utilitarianism,1861). Critically evaluate Bentham’s thought “All pleasures are the same”. Do you agree with him? Why or why not. Discuss how Mill’s concept of Rule Utilitarianism is different from Bentham’s idea of Act utilitarianism. To what extent do you believe that the only thing that matters is pleasure? Is it difficult to determine consequences for others? Explain with an example. From an academic journal Inquiry in 1965, H. J. McCloskey, we find out the following case: Suppose a utilitarian was visiting an area in which there was racial strife, and that, during his visit, a Negro rapes a white woman, and that race riots occur as a result of the crime, white mobs, with the connivance of the police, bashing and killing Negroes, etc. Suppose too that our utilitarian is in the area of the crime when it is committed such that his testimony would bring about the conviction of a particular Negro. He knows that a quick arrest will stop the riots and lynchings. If he decides to bear false witness in order to bring about the punishment of an innocent person which might have some bad consequences- the innocent man might be executed—but there would be enough good consequences to outweigh them. What would be the right course of action if he follows the Rule Utilitarianism? Will the result be the same if he decides to implement the Act Utilitarianism? Explain. Which one do you prefer and why?
A different way of thinking about ethics was developed by the classical utilitarian Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill. Clarify Mill’s quotation on the principle of Utilitarianism, “The utilitarian doctrine is that happiness is desirable, and the only thing desirable, as an end; all other things being desirable as means to that end.” (John Stuart Mill, Utilitarianism,1861). Critically evaluate Bentham’s thought “All pleasures are the same”. Do you agree with him? Why or why not. Discuss how Mill’s concept of Rule Utilitarianism is different from Bentham’s idea of Act utilitarianism. To what extent do you believe that the only thing that matters is pleasure? Is it difficult to determine consequences for others? Explain with an example.
From an academic journal Inquiry in 1965, H. J. McCloskey, we find out the following case:
Suppose a utilitarian was visiting an area in which there was racial strife, and that, during his visit, a Negro rapes a white woman, and that race riots occur as a result of the crime, white mobs, with the connivance of the police, bashing and killing Negroes, etc. Suppose too that our utilitarian is in the area of the crime when it is committed such that his testimony would bring about the conviction of a particular Negro. He knows that a quick arrest will stop the riots and lynchings. If he decides to bear false witness in order to bring about the punishment of an innocent person which might have some bad consequences- the innocent man might be executed—but there would be enough good consequences to outweigh them.
What would be the right course of action if he follows the Rule Utilitarianism? Will the result be the same if he decides to implement the Act Utilitarianism? Explain. Which one do you prefer and why?
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