The categorical imperative tells us to act according to maxims we can want as universal laws. A maxim always contains the reasons according to which someone acts; In the previous examples, the reasons are to recover energy, avoid sanctions, maintain a good reputation and respect others. What the categorical imperative does is tell us if our reasons for action are good or bad. The principle will tell us that maintaining a good reputation is a bad reason to keep promises and that doing it out of respect
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Darrin M. McMahon’s essay, “In Pursuit of Unhappiness”,was published in New York Times on December 29, 2005. His essay addresses the idea that we must be happy by starting with the famous phrase, “Happy New Year”. Human beings have a desire to be happy and are constantly searching for it. McMahon specifies that even with better living conditions than ever before, the level of enjoyment has not went up at all. The philosopher, John Stuart Mill, voices his opinion in the essay by saying, “Ask yourself
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Singer’s main focus on “All Animals are Equal” is mainly their suffering and how they should have some sort of rights. Us humans eat these animals with no thoughts of the pain that they go through or even if they have pain. The same way we don't kill each other by their intelligence or understand when someone is in pain, we shouldn’t have animals suffering. He says most people are speciesism, which only thinks about themselves and not the cause of how animals can have moral rights. He compares racism
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Equality is an idea that is good in theory. It makes people feel good to think that everyone is on the same level and no person is better than them. That idea, that no one can be better than another person, has flaws. There will always be someone that is just a little bit better than someone at something and that, sometimes, can make people scared. So, while people preach the idea that complete equality is best for everyone and no one person should be better than another; Kurt Vonnegut shows that
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Utilitarianism is known as, “the moral theory that focuses on the results or consequences of our actions, treats and intentions as irrelevant.” This could be interpreted as taking actions with the intension of bringing the greater good for the greater number of people. Something that we can say that we have in common is that we ultimately work for things with the intension of gaining happiness. Utilitarianism is not about acting towards the benefit of oneself, but it is to benefit others. The principle
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Utilitarianism is a moral principle that holds that the morally right course of action in any situation is the one that produces the greatest balance of benefits over harms for everyone affected. So long as a course of action produces maximum benefits for everyone, utilitarianism does not care whether the benefits are produced by lies, manipulation, or coercion (Andre,Velazques). Gene G. James in his book Business Ethics:Readings and Cases in Corporate Morality, defines whistle blowing as, “the attempt
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was a very tough decision to make and although every one of these people deserve this heart I have found it to be in the best interest of everyone that Lisa gets the heart. The utilitarianism theory and hedonistic utilitarianism have greatly affected my thinking and have helped me come to this conclusion. The utilitarianism theory is based upon that the greatest good for the greatest number should be the main consideration in making a choice. Also, the second theory goes hand in hand where there is
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B. “Utilitarianism has no significant flaws” I disagree with the premise that Utilitarianism has no significant flaws for the following reasons. According to Bentham’s “fair system” it’s acceptable to have cases when a minor individual may suffer a significant loss whilst the majority gain pleasure from it. For example, if someone was getting bullied and beaten his pain would be insignificant compared to the other bullies happiness, so in the majority pleasure would override pain making this
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Utilitarianism – Revision Possible questions: Explain the theory: Describe and explain the main principles of Utilitarianism (or specific features e.g. Mill’s Utilitarianism) Explain the main differences between Act and Rule Utilitarianism (or other variants) Apply the theory: Explain a Utilitarian approach to issues raised by fertility treatment (or any other issue) Evaluate the theory: Explain the main strengths of a Utilitarian ethical system (or e.g. Bentham’s Utilitarianism) What
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medical practice we must first look at what a moral philosophy is, also which philosophies that will be included. Moral philosophy is the area of philosophy concerned with theories of ethics, with how we ought to live our lives. Deontology and utilitarianism are the two philosophies that I shall be evaluating and applying throughout this essay. These are two time-honoured philosophical positions that apply to a wide variety of topics. Deontology is an ethical system that is attributed to the philosophical
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