...Contextual Analysis The concept of Utilitarianism by Mill is that an action is right if it tends to promote happiness and wrong if it tends to produce the reverse of happiness- not just the happiness of the performer of the action but also that of everyone affected by it. The Rainbow Fish relates to a core notion of basic utilitarianism, the happiness of the group vs. the happiness of the individual. The basic of utilitarian tenets of "The greatest good for the greatest number" and "Maximizing happiness across the population" are easily apparent when reflecting on Rainbow Fish's decision and the consequences (Mill). In the Rainbow Fish's case, theoretically, he was going to be a little less happy if he lost his scales, but as a result his friends will become much happier. In practice, though, giving everyone a scale actually made him even happier. Mill’s theory of maximizing happiness across the population in Utilitarianism explains why Rainbow Fish becomes happier when he shares his scales with the other fish and his perspective of selfishness explains why Rainbow Fish is unhappy at first. In the book, The Rainbow Fish, there is one of the most beautiful fish in the ocean. Unlike all of the other fish, Rainbow Fish had shimmering, colorful scales. He is asked to share one of his shining scales with a little blue fish, and to which he refuses. All the other fish in the sea leave him alone, and he wondered why. He goes to the wise octopus for advice, and she tells him to give...
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...are indifferent to the personal integrity of a person, something that is formed by their deepest held moral principles.[2] By forcing a person to reject her conscience and compelling her to perform lesser evils, utilitarianism requires us to discard integrity and should be rejected on these grounds, or at least so says Williams.[3] It can be difficult to understand Williams’ argument without making clear the charges he makes against utilitarianism and why they are considered to be effective attacks against the view. To get the clearest conception possible of the charges made, one should have a firm grasp of the utilitarian position so that one may successfully relate Williams’ criticisms to the theory. First, the utilitarian moral theory must be clearly formulated. Then I will present and clarify some of Williams’ objections against this theory. Finally, I will explore some utilitarian responses to Williams’ objections. Articulating Utilitarianism Utilitarianism is a moral theory that is traditionally attributed to Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill.[4] In his essay An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation, Bentham illustrates his view on the notion of utility by stating at the very beginning that: Nature has placed mankind under the governance of two sovereign masters, pain and pleasure. It is for them alone to point out what we...
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...Introduction The concept of utilitarianism is one that has engulfed the philosophical arena with an obscene number of arguments that support and/or criticize it. Generally, utilitarianism is a theory in normative ethics that defines an action as one that ensures maximum utility. Other schools of thought would like to put it as the concept of “maximizing happiness while reducing suffering” (Mills 3).In as much as utilitarianism has continued to receive applause from people and the political scene, other divergent scholars has come up with other theories that seek to compromise the philosophies under which the concept of utilitarianism operates. As a result, utilitarianism has become subject to contradictions from other theories in the field of ethics. The thinking class in other fields of utilitarianism characterizes in as a quantitative yet reductionist approach to ethics (Mills 3). Over time, the concept of utilitarianism has received ideological threats from; deontological ethics which does not assign moral worth to an action based on its consequences, virtue ethics that solely deals with action and habits that results to happiness, pragmatic ethics and other forms of ethics that backs the idea of consequentialism. In a nut shell, the concept of utilitarianism as defined by political philosophers and in relation to justice is becoming a “battlefield” where the philosophical bigwigs continue to come up with ideas and findings that seek to either develop or criticize the existing...
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...Week One – Three theories of ethics From early childhood on, we live in a world of choices, actions and consequences. Some acts make us happy, others sad, some guilty, others proud, and many actions just get us through the day. We observe other people and experience feelings of empathy, sympathy, envy, embarrassment, censure. We judge (or “think about”) the actions of ourselves and others according to criteria gathered over time from family, friends, mentors and society at large. Philosophers stand outside this “circle of living,” to observe the hows and whys of what we do and become who we are, and try to interpret that. So do artists, poets and novelists. But philosophers choose to situate individual beings and their actions within larger theoretical settings, called principles. They search for the defining principles that guide our actions, and for general descriptions that will explain the way things are and what they mean. This effort is to help us both understand ourselves better and act better. As philosophers have considered human experience, three fundamental areas have been elicited: How and what we know, think or understand ------> theory What we create, produce or make -------> arts How we act, what we do or should do -------> practice The third strand will be the focus of our exploration in this seminar: How should we act? What should we be, or become? This debate is known as...
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...inspiring millions worldwide through the love of her family, her sheer determination, and her unwavering faith in Jesus Christ. This essay will cover some questions and their answers through explanatory paragraphs. Compassion: Changing People’s Point of View Why does compassion change the way we view things? Let us first define it: It is the pity for suffering, with the desire to help or to spare. The definition itself explains the answer of the question. Compassion can be the natural instinct of a merciful individual who tends to help mostly those who are needy as of certain individuals - who are more likely Samaritans - being practiced. Compassion changes our viewpoint because of this, since it provides us the courage and will to change and to be open for new possibilities and opportunities, as Sarah told Bethany that it could move people to do great things and can also provide a new perspective. It could also be considered as a life changer, as it can greatly influence individuals that have gone through several trials and problems. It can also empower us to be prudent; being persistent enough to do good things with faith in God towards other people, especially our loved ones. If compassion would only exist in everyone, there will be no more wars, no more hatred and pain in our hearts and our children will play, with freedom and happiness in their hearts. Motivation: Importance in Perseverance against Adversity Bethany’s passion was always surfing: from being little...
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...The Meaning of Freedom The meaning of freedom in the United States has come into such controversy. Everyone has a different ideology on how they perceive their personal freedoms and what it really is to be free. As a society some would say we do not possess the ability to speak, act, and think openly without fear of persecution. We must ask ourselves if we are slaves to our government and other authority figures or are we our own masters. I would say that we can only be slaves to our own limited experiences. If we choose to be enslaved no matter our treatment then that is what we are. If we choose to speak our minds and follow our hearts we will always be free. What Is The Meaning Of Freedom There are many definitions of the word freedom, but the word slave is usually tied into that phrase. Although in another time there was real live slavery, in today’s age it is reflected more by a person’s mind than actual bonds. People can just as easily be enslaved by oppressive rules and governing officials as they can by bonds. To be forced to abide by rules and regulations that are not honorable or in good taste is equally a sign of our lost freedom. Martin Luther King said it best “I am in Birmingham because injustice is here. Just as the prophets of the eighth century B.C. left their villages and carried their "thus saith the Lord" far beyond the boundaries of their home towns, and just as the Apostle Paul left his village of Tarsus and carried the gospel of Jesus Christ to the...
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...Sample Final Exam Essay: Legalize Gay Marriage English—Mr. Fichter (This sample essay is based upon a student-written essay from last year. The student author is anonymous.) Homosexuality is everywhere. You can see it in books, on television, in the media; it is rapidly becoming a social norm. Given this trend of greater acceptance of gay marriage, the issue of whether to legalize same-sex marriage naturally arises. Massachusetts has led the way by legalizing gay marriage. Responding to this example, some states have taken steps towards accepting gay marriage while others are considering laws and constitutional amendments banning gay marriage within state borders. President George Bush has recently proposed a ban on gay marriage in the U.S. Constitution (Hulse). If Americans carefully examine the situation, however, they should all be able to understand the importance of making same-sex marriage legal in the United States. Those opposing same-sex marriage claim that by allowing this act, marriages everywhere will lose their honor and validity (Kurtz). Marriages between a man and a woman would lose their special importance, these opponents argue, if the definition of marriage is expanded to include same-sex couples as well. The test of time has proven this fear pointless. For several years, Germany, Spain, and the Netherlands have allowed gay marriage without any signs of damage to heterosexual couples. Social life in these countries continues unchanged, and...
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...IB Diploma Programme Theory of Knowledge Essay Topic: Can we know when to trust our emotions in the pursuit of knowledge? Consider history and one other area of knowledge. Candidate Name: Akanksha Vardhan Candidate Number: 002602-064 School Name: BD Somani International School School Number: 002602 Word Count: 1597 Can we know when to trust our emotions in the pursuit of knowledge? Consider history and one other area of knowledge. Bertrand Russell, the 20th century British philosopher, once said, “Man is a credulous animal, and must believe something; in the absence of good grounds for belief, he will be satisfied with bad ones.” [1]In our daily conquest to acquire “justified true belief”, [2]it is important that we are aware of the ‘good’ and ‘bad’ influences that contribute to the experience, the pursuit of knowledge, in a way that we are able to consciously weigh the validity of our knowledge claims. Many romantic writers and poets in the early nineteenth century emphasized the importance of emotion in making sense of the world. John Keats once said, “Axioms in philosophy are not axioms until they are proved upon by our pulses” [3] referring to the superiority of our core emotions (happiness, fear, anger, surprise or even disgust) - the strong feelings deriving from our moods, circumstances or relationships with others[4], in gaining an accurate picture of the truth. However, is it possible that the ‘truth’ itself is more complex and what...
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...Impact of poor attachment on personal development Attachment theory offers an understanding of personality development and behaviour in close relationships and provides an account of the difference in people’s emotional and relationship styles. It relates to how resilient children will become later in life when facing life stressors. In its earliest form, attachment theory concentrated on the dynamics and quality of relationships between children and their parents, but it has since been expanded to cover the lifespan. The clear result seems that early parent-child relationship, and the degree of successful attachment, mediates and influences the course of a person’s development. (Howe, 1995) This essay is based on theories and concepts put forward by John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth, the two most important people who have influenced the theory of attachment. In this essay I will look at the impact poor attachment has on a person’s development and the reason for choosing to explore this topic, is having developed a keen interest around the influence of poor attachment with my father and the impact it has had on my life in terms of loving, trusting and sexual relationships. Pearce (2009) states that attachment is a term that can be used to describe the dependency relationship a child develops between them and their primary care-givers and progresses throughout the years of their lives. We are not born with attachment but “this special relationship emerges over time and through...
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...officials and ruled by the majority. The written dialogues of Socrates by Plato take into account that democracy is actually inefficient and undermines the true values of their citizens. Plato’s best known and comprehensive work is the Republic. He criticized democracy as an inadequate form of government because it caused corruption of people through public opinions and created rulers whose main concern it to the ability to influence its citizen rather than being knowledgeable of proper rulership. Therefore, this government is capable of molding the perception and ideas of the citizens. According to Plato, democratic governance is a poor form of government due to the focus on self-interest rather than the welfare of society as a whole. In this essay, Plato’s background, views on politics will be presented first; then, his in-depth opinion of democracy and what he believed to be an ideal society. Plato wrote, in his autobiography Seventh Letter, that he could not identify himself with any political parties because they were heavily engage in corrupted activities. However, it was due to the execution of Socrates that provided Plato with the assurance that the existing governments were fallacious without any possible reparation. He perceived politics as unhealthy and wanted to achieve an eradication of politics. According to Plato, society can possibly be harmonious, productive, and obtain sustainable social living if liberated from politics. Through politics, citizens have a tendency...
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...Ring of Gyges, Glaucon Socrates to explain why anyone should still desire justice even if there are no further ends to be pursued such as good reputation and honour. Socrates then offers a conception of justice which goes beyond the definitions offered by his previous interlocuters earlier on in the Republic. This essay will first aim to discuss in detail the challenge set forth by Glaucon followed by an analysis of Socrates' conception of justice with reference to his city-soul analogy. Glaucon claims, on behalf of the average Athenian, that justice is purely a social construction, valued by the masses in view of obtaining a good reputation for justice and virtue(358a). He claims that goods are of three kinds: (1)Goods valued only for what they are and not for their consequences, (2)goods valued for what they are and for their consequences, and (3) goods valued only for their consequences(357b-d). After the two agree on justice belonging to the goods of type-2, Glaucon proceeds to give an explanation of the majority's conception of justice by giving an account of its origins: Before any laws came to be...
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...Ashley Clark-Johnson Professor Stansbury English 101 27 May 2015 The Reason Why Same-Sex Marriage Should be Legal Everywhere “The question before us is whether, consistent with the Massachusetts Constitution, the commonwealth may deny the protections, benefits, and obligations conferred by civil marriage to two individuals of the same sex who wish to marry… The Massachusetts Constitution affirms the dignity and equality of all individuals. It forbids the creation of second-class citizens. In reaching our conclusion we have given full deference to the arguments made by the commonwealth. But it has failed to identify any constitutionally adequate reason for denying civil marriage to same-sex couples” (Baird & Rosenbaum 21). The first request for same-sex marriage was in 2001 in Massachusetts. There was a long 180 day trial regarding the topic. Eventually, the Supreme Court decided to allow same-sex couples to marry, or at least recognize their union. This stirred up a lot of controversy. Many people felt like victims and were disgusted with the final ruling. The people that felt this way did not know how to fathom that this could be happening in the United States and may have even felt ashamed of living in the county. This was the first time that same sex marriage was even brought to court in the United States and many people believed that it never would be. “Mike Huckabee, the erstwhile presidential candidate and former governor of Arkansas who now hawks the Religious...
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...Delivering Happiness at Zappos.com | Supply Chain Management | Submitted To : Raghuram Jayaraman Submitted By: Kiran Khokhar Divya Jain | Table of Contents S.No. | Content | Page No. | 1. | Agile Supply Chain and its Process | 3 | 2. | E-Business | 10 | 3. | Case Study – Zappos.Com | 13 | 4. | Flow Chart | 17 | 5. | Conclusion | 20 | 6. | References | 23 | Agile Supply Chain in the Fashion Industry Keywords: supply chain, e-business, fashion, agility, global sourcing, flexibility, dynamic, predictability, product life cycle. Abstract Fashion markets are synonymous with rapid change and, as a result, commercial success or failure in those markets is largely determined by the organisation’s flexibility and responsiveness. Responsiveness is characterised by short time-to-market, the ability to scale up (or down) quickly and the rapid incorporation of consumer preferences into the design process. In today’s scenario, the conventional organisational structures and forecast-driven supply chains are not adequate to meet the challenges of volatile and turbulent demand which typify fashion markets today. Instead, the requirement is for the creation of an agile organisation embedded within an agile supply chain. The Nature of Fashion Markets Fashion is a broad term which typically encompasses any product or market where there is an element...
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...Servant Leadership, how it can be implemented to build a successful “leader”, and how Servant Leadership effects employee satisfaction. I also found that Servant Leadership is often synonymous with some sort of religious foundation. Many of the articles I read likened Servant Leadership to religious models. I personally found it difficult to connect with this interpretation, even though I see the relationships, so I chose instead to make a broader “spiritual” connection that would appeal to the “non-believer”. By applying the principals of Servant Leadership to all aspects of one’s life, I believe, true satisfaction and success is possible. What is Servant Leadership? Robert Greenleaf coined the phrase Servant Leadership in his essay titled, The Servant as Leader, in 1970. He says that “the servant-leader is servant first… It begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first. Then conscious choice brings one to aspire to lead” (Greenleaf.). The word “servant” may conjure up visions of maids scrubbing floors or perhaps a “man of the cloth.” Webster’s dictionary literally says a servant is a “1) person employed to perform services (especially household) for another, 2) a slave, 3) a government employee or civil servant, 4) a person ardently devoted to another or a cause (P.1658). So the word “servant” and “leader” is something of an oxymoron. How can someone be a servant and leader at the same time? In fact, many would say that by the standards...
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...behavior or courtesy d. the rules of etiquette are backed by statutory law 3. Our relationship with the law is best described by which of the following? a. To a significant extent, law codifies a society’s customs, norms, and moral values. b. The law is a completely adequate guide to the moral standards that we should follow. c. The law makes all immoral conduct illegal. d. Violating the law is always immoral. 4. Which of the following is not one of the four basic kinds of law? a. statutes b. constitutional law c. common law d. contractual law 5. A proper perspective of religion and morality is a. only religion can tell us what is right and wrong b. it’s not true that morality must be based on religion c. religion never influences people’s moral beliefs d. without religion, people wouldn’t have a reason to act morally 6. When religion and morality are considered, a. the moral instructions...
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