W2 Ethics Discussion1 6

Hello Class and Professor Paige! Engage with the Text: It is said in Chapter 3 of How Should One Live? An Introduction to Ethics and Moral Reasoning,   "In its most general sense, utilitarianism is the theory that morally right actions, laws, or policies are those whose consequences have the greatest positive value and least negative value compared to available alternatives" (Thames, B, 2018, sec. 3.1). This quote indicates that utilitarianism is a theory of morality which supports actions that promote happiness or pleasure, rather than unhappiness or harm. One objection of Utilitarianism is The Respect for Persons objection as mentioned by Thames, B. (2018), “…an attractive feature of utilitarianism is that it doesn’t designate certain specific actions as always right or always wrong but allows for some flexibility, depending on the outcomes of the actions” (para. 14). Respect for persons is the concept that all people deserve the right to exercise their full autonomy. Autonomy means being able to make informed and uncoerced decisions. Respect for persons is a system of interaction in which one person ensures that another person has the agency to make a choice. Agency meaning having control or guidance over their own behavior. Happiness is something that all living beings desire. The objection is that giving up personal happiness to save the happiness of another is a self-sacrifice that an individual makes in one's belief that they are producing more beneficial outcomes for others. This objection reminds me of a story I would hear all the time in childhood. Say there is a train coming and you see five people tied to the tracks, there is a lever to veer the train onto a different set of tracks, so the five people don’t get killed, but there is one person tied to the other set of tracks, do you pull the lever to save the five and kill the one? In a situation like that, I assume most people would choose to save the five people because saving five lives not only has the greater number, but the greater impact. As mentioned by Thames, B. (2018), “ However,   we   must   remember   that   utilitarianism   is   an   account   of   what   morality   and   moral   reaso ning   actually   is .   One   cannot   simply   object   that   utilitarianism   fails   to   respect   moral   rules,   because   utilitarians   claim   that   an   account   of   morality   centered   on   consequences   is   superior   to   one   centere d   on   rules” (para. 23). The world is an imperfect place to live. Anyone can do their best to serve the happiness of others by sacrificing their own, and the world will still be imperfect, but the willingness to make such a sacrifice for others is the best attribute that anyone can have or find. Reflect of the Theory: I just recently rewatch the Incredibles, and the part that everyone remembers is when Frozone is getting ready to have dinner with his wife as he sees the chaos from the villain outside. He’s frantically trying to find his suit as he asks his wife, and they start going back and forth on him staying. He says he needs it the public is in danger and then he says, “we are talking about the greater good!” This is an example of utilitarianism, of putting your own needs (in this case your family’s needs) aside when the world needs your help. Reflect on Yourself: