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CSC208 Ethics—Elliott
Pick three different reasonable actions you propose. Give us a one-minute
overview of them (twenty seconds each): (a) description (b) pros (c) cons.
Present a slightly more detailed (3 minutes) ethical analysis under Kant of
one of them as follows:
First action analysis under Kant:
- Who are the stakeholders? (You mght want to
include corportations which are considered "people" in some legal logic.)
- What is the very best case outcome? Worst case?
- Thumbnail analysis: What does the golden rule
say? Where is the good will?
- First forumlation of the categorical imperative: if everyone took this
action, does the system hold up? Are there any inconsistencies in logic?
- Second formulation: is anyone being used as a means to someone else's end?
- Are there any perfect duties involved? Imperfect duties? What are
they?
Kant imperfect duties (must perform in some circumstances): Kant specifies
two imperfect duties: the duty of self-improvement and the duty to aid others. May have to choose which comes first: education, health,
helping others, etc.
Kant perfect duties: (must always perform) Have all the internal resources
for performing these all the time. Don't lie. Don't borrow money you won't
pay back. Don't commit suicide.
Duties
Notes A and
Notes B
Second analysis under Act Utilitarian theory:
(Same or different action.)
What is your gut feeling?
Who are the stakeholders?
What is the common unit of measure?
Problems translating into a common unit?
How do you justify the values you use?
| Utility |
Get caught, expelled 0.2 |
Well-being over grade 0.3 |
Guilt 0.2 |
Betrayal 0.1 |
Money 0.2 |
| Alice |
-5 |
+8 |
0 |
0 |
+3 |
Bob |
-2 |
+5 |
-5 |
0 |
-1 |
Carol |
-3 |
+8 |
-9 |
0 |
-4 |
Dave * 2 |
0 |
-4 |
0 |
-7 |
0 |
If you derived a rule for the greatest happiness, what would it be?
Give some intelligent commentary on Bentham's calculus and how at least one
of these might apply to the above:
- Intensity—how intense the pleasure/pain
- Duration—how long does it last
- Certainty—probability it will occur
- Propinquity—how close in time or geography
- Fecundity—probability pain leads to more pain, and pleasure to
more pleasure
- Purity— probability pain leads to pleasure, pleasure to pain.
- Extent—how many stakeholders affected