I agree with mills who would want to exprience pain if they had an option to experince pleasure? Mills talks about the what he calls the theory of life which he says is the grounding for the freedom of  pain which is desirable by all and if pain must be exprienced then it is only for the promotion of pleasure and the prevention of future pain. This is said to be the way that all human beings should conduct themselves and is the standard for morality.

Utilitarianism

Mill believes that happiness is where we maximize pleasure and minimize pain.   What is pleasure to one person may not be pleasure to another.  There are different qualities and quantities of pleasure in which we strive for the pleasure that is more worthy.  If we have adequate experience we choose one pleasure over the other.  The pleasure we should choose are the intellectual pleasures not bodily pleasures (base pleasures).   Naturalism is that throughout nature we find that all things go to the greatest happiness principle and the greatest happiness principle is the end.  We always act for the certain end purpose, they determine our goals.

Utilitarianism Chapter 2

Conclusion: Utilitarianism authorizes actions resulting in maximizing pleasure and minimizing pain.             All desirable things are desirable either for the pleasure inherent in themselves, or as means to the promotion of pleasure and the prevention of pain. (pg. 7)

1.      Individuals will often choose a pleasure of higher quality even if it brings discomfort. (pg. 8)

A.     The pleasure being attained outweighs the discomfort that comes with it. A fashionable person, for example would be willing to ignore the discomfort brought from wearing shoes that were too small simply because they were the #1 must have item.

2.      No intelligent person would consent to being a fool, just as no ethical person would be selfish and base even if it came with many advantages. (pg. 9)

A.     Regardless of what added benefits may come with changing your status, it is more desirable to remain content with the pleasures you already have.

3.      Pleasure and freedom from pain are the only things people really want. Everything else we only want because it brings us pleasure or prevents pain. (pg. 7)

A.     Everyone would like to have pleasure without all the anguish that often accompanies pleasure. However, one may seek pleasure only to fill the void of pain to satisfy the moment.

Truth, Lie or consequences

The actual state of the matter, a lie is always destructive. If everyone were morally allowed to tell lies to avoid what is difficult to say then everyone would lie and no one would believe anything that was said and lies would no longer be effective. Lies start a chain reaction that removes trust and confidence in the individual who tells the lie. However people only have a right to their truth according to Kant’s view on the right to lie. If a known murderer knocks on ones’ door and questions them about the whereabouts of an intended victim is it their right to the truth of where that person is? In my opinion it is not depending on the circumstances according to the laws that govern them.

Last Weeks Class

The discussion last week in class about the reading of the essay "Supposed Right to Lie" had me second guessing myself on a few occasions. Like when you lie for good consequences like protecting someone from getting hurt, on one hand it could save one person and at the same time hurt another. I never looked at it that way. It just makes sense to try to help protect someone from danger if you can and you never seem to look at what could happen afterwards. The reality is that by that person not getting to the person you are protecting could put an innocent person in danger. Then if you let that person you are protecting get hurt than it feels like you have their blood on your hands. It feels very confusing to have your reasoning distorted like that.

Utilitarianism, General Remarks

Conclusion: To understand and appreciate Utilitarianism as a moral theory.

Premises:

I  Standards that judge the morality of right and wrong has progressed slowly. (Pg. 1)
    A. In science, the truth can still have meaning even though the underlying principles are hard to
           understand.
    B. An unfounded statement has little or no validity.
    C. Therefore, judgement of human actions are dictated by morality.

II The existence of moral instinct and its elimination of the determination of morality. (Pgs. 2-3)
    A. The existence of moral sense is disputable.
    B.  If it is real, it cannot tell what is right and wrong; rather it supplies general principles.
    C.  Morality is based on the application of general law which coincides with general principles.

III  The greatest happiness principle is the principle of utility.
      A. Utilitarianism influences the shaping of moral doctrines.

IV Utilitarianism is unproven since it's impossible to prove ultimate ended questions.
      A. Validity is acceptable when it is proven to be valid.

A Refelection on Ethical Problems course PHI 211

I just wanted to take a moment and share some of my thoughts as we near the end of the journey in this Ethical Problems course. I will admit that I went through a myriad of emotions throughout this course. They ranged from confusion and displeasure to understanding and self-satisfaction. After being out of formal education for so many years I felt overwhelmed at the magnitude of this class and what was required of me. Writing an argumentative outline? Publishing blog posts? I won’t even get started on the required text to read while I had heard of Aristotle, I had no idea how to pronounce Nicomachean Ethics let alone what is was about. At times I thought about giving up and dropping the course, but I persevered because quitting is not in my nature. I walk away from this course with a better understanding of what it means to be happy and experience pleasure. I’ve also learned that pleasure and how it is attained is different for each individual and what is more desirable of pleasurable for one is not for another. Most importantly I learned that in the end everyone wants to experience some sort of pleasure and happiness. This is universal through all society. By conquering this somewhat difficult course I have gained a new sense of confidence to face all other courses ahead of me.