Questions for Chapters 7 and 8
Chapter 7 – The Utilitarian Approach
1. What is the ‘Principle of Utility’?
2. According to the Greatest Happiness Principle, what is the ultimate goal to which we all aspire?
3. What moral rule comes out of accepting this principle?
4. Why is this a revolutionary doctrine?
5. Traditional (Christian influenced) views of morality condemn euthanasia. Why?
6. What is the utilitarian argument why euthanasia is sometimes morally permissible?
7. In general, what is the utilitarian view towards the scope (and purpose of) law?
8. What is the utilitarian view of animal rights? What is the justification for bringing animals into the moral realm?
9. Is the happiness of animals to be given equal weight with the happiness of humans? Why or why not?
10. What is the utilitarian view on animal experimentation? Eating animals?
Chapter 8 – The Debate over Utilitarianism
1. Classical Utilitarianism can be summed up in three propositions. What are they?
2. Explain the argument that happiness cannot be the only thing that is morally important. (This is the argument against Hedonism).
3. The framed man story is meant to show that utilitarianism is inconsistent with justice. Why is there this incompatibility? What has gone wrong?
4. Why does the case of York v. Story suggest that utilitarians cannot (and will not) take the idea of personal rights seriously?
5. Why do past actions cease to have great moral importance to the utilitarian? What difficulties does this create?
6. Why might utilitarianism seem too demanding as a moral theory?
7. What considerations make the ideal of impartiality seem less attractive than it might at first appear?
8. What is the first line of defence by utilitarians? Why is it not strong enough?
9. What is the second line of defence? How is Rule Utilitarianism different from Act Utilitarianism? What motivates the move to Rule Utilitarianism?
10. What is the third line of defence? How does it view Rule Utilitarianism?
Comment Questions
1. Utilitarians have been criticized for following the principle that ‘the ends justify the means’. Provide a utilitarian response to this claim. You might either argue that, properly understood, the ends do justify the means or you might argue that the utilitarian is, in fact, sensitive to the means which he or she employs.
2. More closely examine the case of the framed man. Do you think that utilitarians can come up with a way out of the criticism or is there something about their view which makes them always vulnerable to this sort of challenge? [Note: I want to get your opinions and ideas]