For Monday & Wednesday

As the days pass by I feel like I forget more and more. Sometimes I think I do things, such as post, and log on and find that I haven't posted in a week. My brain seems to not be functioning. I guess I should check instead of relying on my thoughts of what I did and I did not do.


As for Monday:


Before class...

The only flaw that I see is the comprehension of Utilitarianism. I think people have preconceptions of what it is but do not fully understand what it is and how it works. To me, everyone needs to be on the same level or have the same thought of what Utilitarianism is that way when we choose a path to go on we will all be able to arrive at the same solution, though the path may differ.



After class...

Each person desires happiness therefore happiness is desirable for each individual.
Therefore happiness for all is desirable for all.

Utilitarianism is an act or policy which creates the most pleasure possible, or least pain, given all the options is moral, all others are immoral.

Flaws found within the class...
1] It disregards human nature. We don't value all humans equally.
2] Some disagree
3] It is hard to figure out what maximized utility.
4] It requires individuals who want to be moral to maximize utility even if they don't want to.
5] In practice it doesn't maximize utility
6] There is a lack of motivation


It seems to me that through reflecting upon these one can find that it seems as though the flaws are found more within the individual than within a group, or society.




W E D N E S D A Y !

So today we went over what we did on Monday but went more in depth. To me it seems like the idea of Utilitarianism is more of a life style than it is a theory. But I guess one could say that with all the theories. I just think that with this theory it is already stained in us and we simply do not realize it. Though we may think that we are more for the individual than as a whole, I think if we all searched deeper; we would find Utilitarianism engraved in our souls. We pick up trash and recycle because it is saving the planet, and in turn saving us who live within the planet. We do things that will help the environment because it will make us, people, happier with cleaner and fresher air to breathe. I guess what I am trying to say is that many people live by this utility and therefore I think it is more like a lifestyle than it is a theory.

So what I really got from today was the fact that utilitarianism is about determining what's moral and immoral not what motives out to be.

One thing that I could not stop thinking about was the example in class today by Lyn. If self-sacrificing, in order to save a group of people, was the thing to do, would it count as suicide? Since the person is thrusting themselves towards death in hopes of saving many more people it seems like a moral act, but at the same time it seems like suicide and I thought suicide was immoral? Or does it depend on the situation? I am guessing that it does.





Well, this blog is getting long so I'll cut it short. =]