DE LA SALLE – COLLEGE OF SAINT BENILDE

Book Review of Contemporary Moral

Problems IT Ethics

Yumiko Manongdo

2/27/2009

This book review was made for the partial fulfillment of the requirement in the IT Ethics subject in our course Information Systems.

Name of the Book: CONTEMPORARY MORAL PROBLEMS (SEVENTH EDITION) By: James E. White

Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/Contemporary-Moral-Problems-James-White/dp/0534584306

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Philippines License.

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Copyright Receipts Use Case Diagram of Existing System Use Case Narrative of Existing System Activity Diagram of Existing System Use Case Diagram of Proposed System

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Egoism and Moral Scepticism

James Rachel

Quote “No one, is it commonly believed, would have such iron strength of mind as to

stand fast in doing right or keep his hands off other men’s goods, when he could

go to the market-place and fearlessly help himself to anything he wanted…”

Learning Expectation

Differentiate and learn about psychological and ethical egoism

Understand the three commonplace confusions

Review James Rachels’ Egoism and Moral Skepticism discusses and examines the psychological and

ethical egoism. She concludes that both theories are false and confused. Psychological egoism states

that all actions of men are self-interested, meaning all of his actions are focused on himself and for his

benefit only. While the Ethical egoism states that all actions SHOULD be self-interested, that men have

no obligation to do other things except only their own interests. I do think Rachels is right in criticizing

and contradicting this two moral theories because in my opinion these should not be called MORAL

theories because these two states that we humans are selfish in nature that we only act because of our

interests and if we are to act on the interest of others, it should be that it will have a benefit on us like

satisfaction, but is still considered being selfish.

One thing that caught my attention is what Rachels said in the last paragraph of the reading, “…

we may often be able to make accurate moral judgments, and know what we ought to do, but not do it.

For these ills, philosophy alone is not the cure.” I do like Rachels writing because it really makes a lot of

sense to me and it is comprehensible than other theories. He discusses things in a logical order which

makes it easy to understand and follow. And another thing that I like about this reading is the example,

the Legend of Gyges, which is an interesting story which has challenging moral questions. In all these

readings, Rachels’ was what I understood the most and what I could relate to.

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Learning One thing that really sticks to my mind is the egoists that try to create a world that would

maximize his own interests by advocating altruistic principles. This applies to some people in the

government which seems to be caring, hardworking, sympathetic, etc. they do advocate good things like

a campaign against corruption but they themselves are corrupt. This idea is clever but again is evil; it

would be bad if a person who is intelligent and good in deceiving would apply egoism in his life. What

I’ve learned from this is ethical egoism could be consistent given that you consider the things that a

person is doing as a means in achieving the end.

Integrative Questions 1. What do you think would be the reason to continue being moral if it is not on your advantage to

do so?

2. Do you believe that man is selfish in all the things that he does? Why or why not?

3. Is the world of the egoist, where his interests are maximized, could exist in our world? Why or

why not?

4. Do you agree with Rachels that ethical egoism is not inconsistent? Explain.

5. On the last part of the reading, Rachel states that ““… we may often be able to make accurate

moral judgments, and know what we ought to do, but not do it. For these ills, philosophy alone

is not the cure.”, what do you think would the cure be?

Review Questions 1. Explain the legend of Gyges. What questions about morality are raised by the story?

The legend of Gyges is about a shepherd who was said to have found a magic ring in a fissure

opened by an earthquake and the wearer of the ring would make its wearer invisible and thus

could make him go anywhere and do anything undetected. Gyges who found the ring, used it to

gain entry to the Royal Palace and seduced the Queen and murdered the King and seized the

throne.

Glaucon asks if there are two such rings, one given to a man of virtue and one given to a rogue.

It is obvious that the rogue will use the ring to increase his wealth and power, and do anything

he pleases without any fear of punishment. But the question is what does the virtuous man will

do? Glaucon suggest that the virtuous man will behave just as like the rogue because what

reason would the man have to continue being “moral” if it is clearly not to his own advantage to

do so?

2. Distinguish between psychological and ethical egoism.

Psychological egoism is the view that all men are selfish in everything that they do, that is, that

the only motive from which anyone ever acts is self-interest. While Ethical egoism is a normative

view about how men ought to act.

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3. Rachels discusses to arguments for psychological egoism. What are these arguments, and how

does he reply to them?

The first argument for psychological egoism is: “if we describe one person’s action as selfish, and

another person’s action as unselfish, we are overlooking the crucial fact that in both cases,

assuming that the action is done voluntarily, the agent is merely doing what he most wants to

do. If Smith stays behind to help his friend, that only shows that he wanted to help his friend

more than he wanted to go to the country. And why should he be praised for his ‘unselfishness’

when he is doing what he most wants to do? So, since Smith is only doing what he most wants

to do, he cannot be said to be acting unselfishly”

Rachels stated that this argument is so bad that it would not deserve to be taken seriously.

Smith is not acting selfishly because if he wants to do something that will help his friend and

forgoing his own enjoyment, which is what is making him unselfish. It does not necessarily

follow that if you are acting on your wants, you are acting selfishly; it depends on what is it that

you want. Selfishness is if you only want your own good and does not care anything about

others.

The second argument is “Since the so-called unselfish actions always produce a sense of self-

satisfaction in the agent, and since this sense of satisfaction is a pleasant state of consciousness,

it follows that the point of the action is really to achieve a pleasant state of consciousness,

rather than to bring about any good for others. Therefore the action is ‘unselfish’ only at a

superficial level of analysis. Smith will feel much better with himself for having stayed to help his

friend – if he had gone to the country, he would have felt terrible about it – and that is the real

point of the action.”

Rachels also says that this argument suffers from defects similar to the first one. He states that

why should we think that someone who merely derives satisfaction from helping others makes

him selfish? And isn’t it that an unselfish man is the one who derives satisfaction from helping

others, and the selfish one does not?

4. What three commonplace confusions does Rachels detect in the thesis of psychological egoism?

First is the confusion of selfishness with self-interest. Selfish behaviour is behaviour that ignores

the interest of others, in circumstances in which their interests ought not to be ignored. While

self-interest is taking care of yourself properly without sacrificing the interests of others, an

example of which would be brushing your teeth, obeying the law, etc.

Second is the assumption that every action is done either from self-interest or from other-

regarding motives. The egoist concludes that genuine altruism does not exist and all actions

must be done from self-interest.

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Third is the common but false assumption that a concern for one’s own welfare is incompatible

with any genuine concern for the welfare of others. Thus, since it is obvious that everyone (or

very nearly everyone) does desire his own well-being, it might be thought that no one can really

be concerned with others.

5. State the argument for saying that ethical egoism is inconsistent. Why doesn’t Rachels accept

this argument?

“Ethical egoism is at the bottom inconsistent because it cannot be universalized”. Rachels does

not accept this argument because he states that there is a way where ethical egoism could be

maintained consistently. He says that if someone would adopt this idealism, that person would

want other people to be altruists, and would advocate altruistic principles. This would not be

inconsistent, according to Rachels, because it would be perfectly consistent with the person’s

goal of creating a world in which his own interests are maximized. This would mean that the

person would be deceitful and would pretend to accept the altruistic principles. And to quote

Rachels, “He advocates one thing, but does another. Surely that’s inconsistent. But it is not; for

what he advocates and what he does are both calculated as means to an end; and as such, he is

dong what is rationally required in each case.”

6. According to Rachels, why shouldn’t we hurt others, and why should we help others? How can

the egoist reply?

Rachel’s answer to these questions are, we should not hurt other people because other people

would be hurt, and we should help others because others would be benefited. This point is that

the welfare of human beings is something that most of us value for its own sake, and not merely

for the sake of something else. The egoist would surely be unhappy, he will protest that we may

accept this as a reason, but he does not.

Discussion Questions 1. Has Rachels answered the question raised by Glaucon, “Why be moral” If so, what exactly is his

answer?

Being moral is to respect the rights and interest of others, and if other people are also moral,

then living in that society could you live a happy and secure life. And to quote Rachels, “we may

often be able to make accurate moral judgments, and know what we ought to do, but not do it.

For these ills, philosophy alone is not the cure.”

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2. Are genuine egoists rare, as Rachel claims? Is it a fact that most people care about others, even

people they don’t know?

Genuine egoists are rare because they don’t really care about others, even their family

members. I agree with Rachels that a man without sympathy could hardly be called a man at all.

I also believe that all people are born naturally good, which means that they do care about

others even if they don’t know them. Humans are rational beings, who could distinguish good

from evil not like animals. I don’t think that there would be a sane person who would ignore a

person who is in need or in danger.

3. Suppose we define ethical altruism as the view that one should always act for the benefit of

others and never in one’s own self-interest. Is such a view immoral or not?

In my opinion, this view is immoral because first of all, you should value yourself and take care

of it because it does always mean that if you have done good things to other people, they would

return the favor to you. I agree with the saying “you should love yourself before you love

others”. One should act for his own self-interest given that the interests of others are not

suppressed by it.

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Religion, Morality and Conscience

John Arthur

Quote “… gods love holiness because it is holy: and it is not holy because they love it”

Learning Expectation Learn the real definition of morality and how does it affect our beliefs

The importance of morality in respect to religion and vice-versa.

Review John Arthur discusses morality and rejects the notion and teaching that morality depends on

religion. This reading could be offending to some religious people because it argues with the divine

command theory which states that without God, there would be no morality. I am interested in these

kinds of things because they bring about controversies and things that are not normally discussed in

school or in public. Arthur says that it seems like God discovered morality because morality could exist

and is not dependent on religion. This issue was even discussed in earlier times when Socrates asked

Euthyphro, what is it that makes holiness a virtue? And Euthyphro said that it is just whatever all the

gods love which Socrates contradicts and says that holiness is not what is pleasing to the gods, and what

is pleasing to the gods is not holy as you say.

Arthur discussed the topic sufficiently and explained it very clearly with some interesting

examples like that of Euthyphro and Socrates. But Arthur did not really refute the divine command

theory; he just stated that morality will still be under God’s control since God made our environment.

But his main point in this reading is that morality is social because it cannot exist without others and

emphasized Dewey’s point that moral education should not only be possible but, essential. Overall,

Arthur did not really condemn religion in this reading, he is just stating the difference between them and

their correct relationship in which popular moral beliefs mixes it up.

Learning I think the most important thing that I’ve learned from this reading is that morality is Social,

meaning it depends on our interactions with others, on how we occupy the position of others. As Arthur

said, morality cannot exist without others. I’ve only come across this kind of idea about morality in this

reading.

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Integrative Questions 1. Do you agree with Arthur that morality is independent of religion and is it is social?

2. Is it true that people do not think or religion doesn’t even cross their minds when making a

decision?

3. Do you think religion is important if you are morally educated?

4. What do you think would happen if religion is considered as the moral basis?

5. What is your reaction regarding Arthur’s statement that God discovers morality rather than

inventing it?

Review Questions 1. According to Arthur, how are morality and religion different?

Morality is to evaluate the behavior of others and to feel guilt at certain actions when we

perform them, while Religion is the beliefs in supernatural powers that created and perhaps also

control nature, the tendency to worship and pray to those supernatural forces or beings, and

the presence of organizational structures and authoritative texts.

2. Why isn’t religion necessary for moral motivation?

Religion isn’t necessary for moral motivation because religious motives are far from the only

ones people have. The decision to do the right thing depends on many reasons, and many

people don’t give much thought to religion when making a moral decision

3. Why isn’t religion necessary as a source of moral knowledge?

Religion isn’t necessary as a source of moral knowledge because morality exists even without

religion and moral knowledge could be achieved through other things not only through the

teachings of a religion

4. What is the divine command theory? Why does Arthur reject this theory?

Divine command theory states that religion is necessary for morality because without Go there

could be no right or wrong, God, in other words, provides the foundation or bedrock on which

morality is grounded. Arthur rejects this theory because he believes that morality is not

invented by God, rather God discovers it. He also states that morality depends in part on how

we reason, what we desire and need, and the circumstances in which we find ourselves, then

morality will still be under God’s control since God could have constructed us or our

environment very differently

5. According to Arthur, how are morality and religion connected?

According to Arthur, religion has historical influence in the development of morality as well on

politics and law, and morality has also influenced religion. Morality could also influence how

people interpret the Bible for example.

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6. Dewey says that morality is social. What does this mean, according to Arthur?

Arthur has three reasons on why morality is social, first, is the existence of morality assumes

that we possess a socially acquired language within which we think about our choices and which

alternatives we ought to follow. Second, morality is social in that it governs relationships among

people, defining our responsibilities to others and theirs to us. Third, morality is social in the

sense that we are, in fact, subject to criticism by others for our actions. And Dewey’s reason

which is we reject our private, subjective perspective of others, envisioning how they might

respond to various choices we make. Morality cannot exist without the broader, social

perspective introduced by others, and this social nature ties it, in that way, with education and

with public discussion, both actual and imagined.

Discussion Questions 1. Has Arthur refuted the divine command theory? If not, how can it be defended?

Arthur has refuted the divine command theory because he stated that to adopt the divine

command theory therefore commits its advocate to the seemingly absurd position that even the

greatest atrocities might be not only acceptable but morally required if God were to command

them.

2. If morality is social, as Dewey says, then how can we have any obligations to nonhuman

animals?

Our obligations to nonhuman animals rests on sympathy and compassion, we should not harm

animals not because other people would disapprove of it or the animal itself would disapprove,

but we should not hurt them because they would be hurt. We should know better because we

are humans, we are able to distinguish the right from wrong and that’s what makes us different

from any other animals.

3. What does Dewey mean by moral education? Does a college ethics class count as a moral

education?

Dewey defines moral education as training and moral thinking of putting ourselves onto other

people’s position, listening to others, reading what about others think and do, and reflecting

within ourselves about our actions and whether we could defend them to others. A college

ethics class could be counted as a moral education because we could read and study about

moral theories which are about what other people think and their reactions to the existing

theories.

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Master– and Slave-Morality

Friedrich Nietzsche

Quote

“The noble type of man separates himself the beings in whom the opposite of this exalted, proud

disposition displays itself: he despises them.”

Learning Expectation 1. How a society could function if it follows the Master- and Slave-Morality.

2. What is the moral implication of this theory?

3. How does the Master- and Slave-Morality works.

Review Friedrich Nietzsche’s Master- and Slave-Morality states that a healthy society should allow the

“superior beings” to rule and to exploit the inferior. He describes the “superior beings” as the one who

follows the “master-morality” which emphasizes power, strength, egoism and freedom. And an inferior

being follows the “slave-morality” which calls for weakness, submission, sympathy and love. First of all, I

would say that Nietzsche’s concept of freedom is mislead because the right meaning of freedom is doing

what is right without violating the freedom of other people. I think Nietzsche’s understanding of

freedom is the same as the common belief of people that it is doing what you want without control and

restrictions which isn’t really right.

I do not like Nietzsche’s idea at all, for me it really violates morality in every way. And it seems

that his works, like the Will to Power inspired Adolf Hitler to form Nazism. As I’ve understood, the Will

to Power states that you should take advantage of your life to gain as much power as you can, and being

alive gives you that opportunity. I think that this inspired Adolf Hitler to be the leader of the Nazis; he

took advantage of the situation when Germany was just arising from the Great Depression. Nietzsche’s

idea of the “superior beings” was the Aryans that the Nazis considered to be former gods that are lost,

and are pure bloods that are higher than any other race. And the Jews to be the “slaves” that are to be

exploited by them.

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Learning I learned that in Master- and Slave-Morality, what are good to them are the noble ones and the

bad is the despicable ones, according to Nietzsche, they are the cowards, the timid, the insignificant and

those thinking merely of narrow utility, also the distrusted.

Integrative Questions 1. Do you think Nietzsche’s idea is good or bad?

2. Is Master- and Slave-Morality one of the causes of the rise of the Feminism theory?

3. If the inferior ones are the weak, submissive, with sympathy and love, isn’t this theory pertaining to

females?

4. Is it morally right for the persons who follow the “master-morality” to exploit others who follow the

“slave-morality”?

5. Why do you think Nietzsche values the noble type of man and even calls him a “creator of values”?

Review Questions 1. How does Nietzsche characterize a good and healthy society?

A good and healthy society according to Nietzsche is that it should not regard itself as a function

either of the kingship or the commonwealth but the significance and highest justification

thereof – that it should therefore accept with a good conscience the sacrifice of a legion of

individuals, who, for its sake, must be suppressed and reduced to imperfect men, to salves and

instruments. It fundamental belief must be precisely that society is not allowed to exist for its

own sake, but only as a foundation and scaffolding, by means of which a select class of beings

may be able to elevate themselves to their higher duties, and in general to a higher existence.

2. What is Nietzsche’s view of injury, violence, and exploitation?

Nietzsche’s view of injury, violence, and exploitation is to refrain from it; it would be a will to the

denial to life, a principle of dissolution and decay. Exploitation does not belong to a depraved, or

imperfect and primitive society: it belongs to the nature of the living being as a primary organic

function.

3. Distinguish between master-morality and slave-morality

Master-morality emphasizes power, strength, egoism, and freedom while salve-morality is

weakness, submission, sympathy and love

.

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4. Explain the Will to Power

The Will to Power is life. It will endeavor to grow, to gain ground, attract to itself and acquire

ascendancy.

Discussion Question 1. Some people view Nietzsche’s writings as harmful and even dangerous. For example, some have

charged Nietzsche with inspiring Nazism. Are these charges justified or not? Why or why not?

In my opinion, Nietzsche’s writings could be harmful and dangerous if a person would make it as

his ideology and would apply it to his life. Like in ancient Greece, their republic was tranquil and

successful because of the presence of slaves. I do think that Nietzsche’s writing somehow

inspired Nazism because of the master and slave morality in which the Aryans are the superior

race and others are impure and inferior. And as Nietzsche’s says, to live is a Will to Power and

the creator of values, which Hitler applied to himself.

2. What does it mean to be “a creator of values”?

A creator of values is a noble type of man that regards himself as a determiner of values; he

does not require to be approved of; he passes the judgment; he knows that it is he himself only

who confers honors on things; he honors whatever he recognizes in himself; such morality is

self-glorification.

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Trying Out One’s New Sword

Mary Midgley

Quote “Morally as well as physically, there is only one world, and we all have to live in it.”

Learning Expectation 1. Understand the concept of moral isolationism

2. Why is it considered as a doctrine of immoralism

Review

Mary Midgley’s reading, Trying Out One’s New Sword, is titled as such because it was based from the classical Japanese tradition of ‘tsujigiri’ which means “to try out one’s new sword on a chance wayfarer”. In this article, Midgley discusses and attacks moral isolationism which is the anthropologists’ view that a culture could not be judged if you do not understand it.

Midgley merely states that moral isolationism is unreal because even the most remote tribe’s culture is formed out of many streams. We could be able to relate to these cultures in a way or the other because we too have our own culture. The anthropologists’ basis for the moral isolationism is the isolated tribes which they chose to study and observe.

What I like about Midgley’s attack is that she really thinks that there should not be anything that could not be morally criticized because this would mean that moral reasoning is ignored and that is what immoralism is all about. She even categorized Nietzsche as one of the immoralists and compared him to smugglers in how immoralists put moralizing out of business. I think that other cultures should be studied beforehand when it is criticized because this would lead to misconceptions and wrong prejudices. And as a moral practice, we should be putting ourselves onto others’ shoes before we could even judge them. Which could mean that the best way to judge a culture is when you are part of that culture itself because there are certain things that could not be understood and appreciated by others?

Learning

I learned the term immoralism which is according to Midgley is a special sect of moralists that put moralizing out of business. But I find this definition to be funny because how moralists could be putting moralism out of business; I think they should be called immoralists. Another thing that I learned is the meaning of moral isolationism, I think this theory is somewhat right, but should be modified if it

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were to be accepted. I agree that you cannot judge a thing you don’t know because you don’t have any basis for criticism.

Review Questions 1. What is “moral isolationism”?

Moral isolationism is the view of anthropologists and others that we cannot criticize cultures

that we do not understand.

2. Explain the Japanese custom of tsujigiri. What questions does Midgley ask about this custom?

Tsujigiri is a Japanese customs wherein a samurai sword had to be tried out because if it was to

work properly, it had to slice through someone at a single blow, from the shoulder to the

opposite flank. Otherwise, the warrior bungled his stroke. This could injure his honor, offend his

ancestors, and even let down his emperor. So tests were needed, and wayfarers had to be

expended. Any wayfarer would do – provided, of course, that he was no another Samurai.

3. What is wrong with moral isolationism, according to Midgley

According to Midgley, moral isolationism is essentially a doctrine of immoralism because it

forbids any moral reasoning. Furthermore, it falsely assumes that cultures are separate and

unmixed, whereas most cultures are in fact formed out of many influences. Moral isolationism

forbids us to form any opinions on these matters. Its ground for doing so is that we don’t

understand them

4. What does Midgley think is the basis for criticizing other cultures?

Moral isolationism would lay down a general ban on moral reasoning. Essentially, this is the

program of immoralism, and it carries a distressing logical difficulty. The power of moral

judgment is a necessity. When we judge something to be bad or good, better or worse than

something else, we are taking it as an example to aim at or avoid.

Discussion Questions 1. Midgley says that Nietzsche is an immoralist. Is that an accurate and fair assessment of

Nietzsche? Why or why not?

I think it is a fair and accurate assessment of Nietzsche because as what morality is about, is to

care about the interest of others when you ought to and not to make your self-interest on top of

others and make yourself king-like at the expense of others. Nietzsche’s theory inspires

discrimination and selfishness which is really immoral.

2. Do you agree with Midgley’s claim that the idea of separate and unmixed cultures is unreal?

Explain your answer.

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I believe Midgley’s claim that separate and unmixed cultures is unreal because as Midgley

stated, all cultures are formed out of many streams. Wherever you go, cultures always have

similarities because it is also made by humans.

Utilitarianism

John Stuart Mill

Quote “A being of higher faculties requires more to make him happy, is capable

probably of more acute suffering, and certainly accessible to it at more points,

than one of an inferior type; but in spite of these liabilities, he can never really

wish to sink into what he feels to be a lower grade of existence”

Learning Expectation To learn what is Utilitarianism

And how was it justified

Review John Stuart Mill’s Utilitarianism portrays how some of us act in our world today. With

considering happiness as good and pain as bad, people tend to act on what makes them happy

regardless if it is morally wrong. It is somehow like the democratic kind of government which considers

the decision of the majority in electing a president; it is much like Utilitarianism because it chooses what

causes the greater happiness which in this case is in electing a president. But what makes me question

Utilitarianism is what it states that happiness is the absence of pain, I think this is not true in most

situations because imagine a day wherein you are not doing something, which leaves you to become

bored, is boredom considered as being happy or being in pain? In my opinion it is neither because there

are some situations wherein a person is neither happy nor in pain. Although this theory of Mill is a nice

thing to have as a moral standard in our world, imagine considering the happiness of the majority which

happens to include you, I think it is a pleasant position to be in, but still there are people who have their

interests negated from the majority, we still have to consider them and the biggest flaw of this theory is

not everything that makes you happy is good and not all pain is bad.

In reading Mill’s work, it is also hard to understand if you haven’t read the other theories first. I

suggest that readers should first read Utilitarianism as to get its basic idea and then read the other

theories and to read Utilitarianism again to better have a grasp of the concept. This is what I’ve done

because I don’t really understand the whole concept of Utilitarianism the first time I’ve read it.

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Learning I’ve learned what does Utilitarianism means and how was it defended by Mill in a series of

examples.

Integrative Questions 1. Do you think that Utilitarianism is manifested in our daily actions?

2. Do you agree with the concept of Utilitarianism?

3. Isn’t it that some person derives pleasure from pain? Do you think that this contradicts the

theory of Utilitarianism?

4. Is it really right to choose the happiness of the majority over the happiness of one person?

5. In your opinion, is happiness really the absence of pain? Then how about doing nothing, is it

considered happiness or pain?

Review Questions 1. State and explain the Principle of Utility. Show how it could be used to justify actions that are

conventionally viewed as wrong, such as lying and stealing.

The principle of utility states that “actions that are right in proportion as they tend to produce

happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness”. This principle means that

an action that would produce greater happiness than unhappiness is the right thing to do, even

if it is morally wrong, and that an action that would cause greater unhappiness compared to

happiness is wrong. We could apply this principle in justifying actions that are wrong such as

lying and stealing. In lying, it could be considered good when for example a person lies to

someone for the purpose of going on a vacation with his friends, this action would be

considered the right thing to do because it would result in greater happiness than the

unhappiness that the action brought about to the other person who is being lied to. In stealing,

one good example is Robin Hood, he steals from the rich to give to the poor, and this could be

justified as right because what he stole would give happiness to a lot of poor people and

unhappiness to the one who he stole from.

2. How does Mill reply to the objection that Epicureanism is a doctrine worthy only of swine?

Mill objects that Epicureanism is derived from utilitarianism because if the source of pleasure of

a swine is the same with human beings, then human beings are degraded because of the

comparison of what satisfies them. Human beings have elevated faculties than animals, which

mean that what is good enough for the beasts should not be satisfying to human beings.

3. How does Mill distinguish between higher and lower pleasures?

The higher pleasure is one from the two pleasures which was preferred by most people who

experienced both pleasures, while the lower pleasure is the one which was not preferred. This

preference is based on the quality of the pleasure and not on the quantity.

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4. According to Mill, whose happiness must be considered?

According to Mill, all person’s happiness must be considered, and not only of an individual.

5. Carefully reconstruct Mill’s proof of the principle of Utility.

Mill states that each person desires his own happiness, in the principle of Utility, happiness is

considered good that each person’s happiness is a good to himself, and that the general

happiness is good to the majority of all persons.

Discussion Questions 1. Is happiness nothing more than pleasure, and the absence of pain? What do you think?

In my opinion, happiness is not just pleasure and the absence of pain, happiness for me is being

content with what you have and what you are as a person. There are such scenarios that a

person is happy even at the presence of pain, so I don’t agree with the statement above.

2. Does Mill convince you that the so-called higher pleasures are better than the lower ones? What

about the person of experience who prefers the lower pleasures over the higher ones?

I think that the higher pleasures are not better than the lower ones because pleasure depends

on what a person consider as pleasurable. For example, a person considers foot-massage

pleasurable than swimming in a beach, then that is the higher pleasure for that person. This

could differ from one person to another depending on their preference, and I think that there

are persons who rates two pleasures equally.

3. Mill says, “In the golden rule of Jesus of Nazareth, we read the complete spirit of the ethics of

utility.”Is this true or not?

I think what Mill said is true because utilitarianism is concerned about the happiness of the

majority. The concept that a person would prefer to be happy constitutes to this statement, the

person would do things that would make others happy so that others would do things to him

that would make him happy too.

4. Many commentators have thought that Mill’s proof of the Principle of Utility is defective. Do you

agree? If so, then what mistake or mistakes does he make? Is there any way to reformulate the

proof so that it is not defective?

I think that Mill’s proof of utility is defective because he states that happiness is the one that is

desired by people, not the means. In my opinion, people does things because of some reason

but not because it would bring them happiness. For example, a person scratched his head, the

reason why he scratched his head is to relieve his uneasiness, and he does not scratch his head

to become happy, he scratched his head to relieve the discomfort. I think that it happiness is a

by-product of doing something that a person likes, not as an end or a reason for doing it.

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The Debate over Utilitarianism

James Rachels

Quote “Thus in some instances we will not treat everyone alike, because people are not

just members of an undifferentiated crowd. Instead, they are individuals who, by

their own choices, show themselves to deserve different kinds of responses…”

Learning Expectation 1. Know what the objections of Rachels on utilitarianism are

2. And what are the replies given by the defenders of utilitarianism

Review This reading is again from James Rachel, he summed up utilitarianism in three propositions: first

is that, it is the consequence that determines the judgment of the action. Second is the amount of

happiness and unhappiness is the basis in assessing consequences. And third is everyone’s happiness is

equally important. Rachel discusses his own view about how utilitarianism is right in considering

consequences of actions, but is incorrect in ignoring other moral considerations.

Rachel also discusses Hedonism, which states that happiness is the ultimate good and therefore

unhappiness is the ultimate evil. He considers it as a misunderstanding of happiness because according

to him, ”Happiness is not something that is recognized as good and sought for its own sake with other

things appreciated only as means of bringing it about. Instead happiness is a response we have to the

attainment of things that we recognize as goods, independently and in their own right.” I think that

there is not anything that is much clearer and sensible than his definition of happiness.

He also has some arguments about utilitarianism involving justice, rights and backward-looking

reasons or promises. There are some considerations in utilitarianism that violates these three like in

justice, using the example in the reading, it is right for a man to bear false witness to an innocent man to

stop the riot because it would create more happiness than unhappiness which really violates the

concept of justice, which is treating another person fairly. This is just an example on how Rachels discuss

issues and arguments regarding morality.

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Learning I learned that there are two kinds of utilitarianism, the act- and rule-utilitarianism. The difference

between these is that the act-utilitarianism is the original concept of utilitarianism and is just named as

such, while the rule-utilitarianism is a watered down version of utilitarianism that gives rule a greater

importance than they merit.

Integrative Questions 1. Do you think we are living in a hedonistic or a utilitarian lifestyle? Why?

2. Imagine our world is hedonistic, would everyone be happy? Why or why not?

3. Why do Rachels think that our moral common sense is not necessarily reliable?

4. What do you think is a better version of utilitarianism? The act- or the rule- utilitarianism?

5. Do you agree that utilitarianism comes into conflict with common sense?

Review Questions 1. Rachel says that classical utilitarianism can be summed up in three propositions. What are

they?

First, actions are to be judged right or wrong solely in virtue of their consequences. Nothing

else matters. Right actions are, simply, those that have the best consequences.

Second, in assessing consequences, the only thing that matters is the amount of happiness

or unhappiness that is caused. Everything else is irrelevant. Thus right actions are those that

produce the greatest balance of happiness and unhappiness.

Third, in calculating the happiness or unhappiness that will be caused, no one’s happiness is

to be counted as more important than anyone else’s. Each person’s welfare is equally

important. As Mill put in his Utilitarianism

2. Explain the problem with hedonism. How do defenders of utilitarianism respond to this

problem?

Hedonism misunderstands the nature of happiness. Happiness is not something that is

recognized as good and sought for its own sake, with other things appreciated only as

means of bringing it about. Instead happiness is a response we have to the attainment of

things that we recognize as goods, independently and in their own right. The defenders of

utilitarianism sought a way to formulate their view without assuming a hedonistic account

for good and evil. One example is G.E. Moore, he tried to compile a short lists of things that

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could be regarded as good things themselves and suggested that there are three obvious

intrinsic goods – pleasure, friendship and aesthetic enjoyment.

3. What are the objections about justice, rights, and promises?

In justice, it requires that we treat people fairly, according to their individual needs and

merits. But utilitarianism suggests that in the case given, the best consequences would be

achieved by lying; therefore according to utilitarianism, lying is the thing to do, and this

would violate justices.

In rights, Utilitarianism is at odds with the idea that people have rights that may not be

trampled on merely because on anticipates good results. In the case given, the utilitarian

conclusion would be that their actions were morally right because of the favourable balance

of happiness over unhappiness. What utilitarianism considers violates Ms. York’s right to

privacy and her legal rights.

And in promises, given a scenario in the reading, utilitarianism suggests that it is right if you

broke your promise because getting your work done would not outweigh the inconvenience

to your friend, but this is an obligation and a promise to a friend that you should be doing.

Utilitarianism, which says that consequences are the only things that matter, seems

mistaken.

4. Distinguish between rule- and act-utilitarianism. How does rule-utilitarianism reply to the

objections?

Rule-utilitarianism is a modification and a new version of utilitarianism which states that

rules will be established by reference to the principle, and individual acts will then be judged

right or wrong by reference to the rules. While the original theory which is now commonly

called act-utilitarianism implies that each individual action is to be evaluated by reference to

its own particular consequences. To put it in another way, Rule-utilitarianism is an

unnecessarily watered-down version of the theory, which gives rule a greater importance

than they merit. Act-utilitarianism however is recognized to be a radical doctrine which

implies that many of our ordinary moral feelings may be mistaken.

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5. What is the third line of defence?

The third line of defence was from a small group of contemporary utilitarians. As J.J.C. Smart

published “Admittedly utilitarianism does not have consequences which are incomparable

with the common moral consciousness, but I tended to take the view ‘so much worse for

the common moral consciousness.’ That is, was inclined to reject the common methodology

of testing general ethical principles by seeing how they square with our feelings in particular

instances.” This response essentially means according to Rachels as”So what?”

Discussion Questions

1. Smart’s defence of utilitarianism is to reject common moral beliefs when they conflict with

utilitarianism. Is this acceptable to you or not? Explain your answer.

I think this is acceptable to me because we shouldn’t always trust our moral common sense

because it is not necessarily reliable as Rachel implies. It may incorporate various rational

elements, including prejudices absorbed from our parents, our religion, and the general culture.

Common moral beliefs could be rejected and could be replaced by moral theories which have

much more basis and foundation than beliefs.

2. A utilitarian is supposed to give moral consideration to all concerned. Who must be considered?

What about nonhuman animals? How about lakes and streams?

In my opinion, those who must be considered are beings that could experience happiness.

Nonhuman animals could not be considered because they don’t feel happiness, and even if they

could we don’t know how to identify it. And also in the case of lakes and streams, these are not

even beings, and they don’t even express pain or happiness so they couldn’t possibly be

considered to be a utilitarian.

3. Rachels claims that merit should be given moral consideration independent of utility. Do you

agree?

I agree with Rachels’ claim because people are not just members of an undifferentiated crowd.

Instead they are individuals who, by their own choices, show themselves to deserve different

kinds of responses as Rachel also says. Merit should be given moral consideration independent

of utility because people should be treated as what they deserve to be treated based on the way

they behave.

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The Categorical Imperative

Immanuel Kant

Quote “The will is conceived as a power of determining oneself to action in accordance

with the idea of certain laws. And such power can be found only in rational

beings.”

Learning Expectation To learn what is the Categorical Imperative

How can it be applied to our lives

How does it differ from other theories presented

Review First of all, I was challenged by Immanuel Kant’s Categorical Imperative because you need to

read it several times over before you could comprehend what it really means. Given that it was originally

in German, I think there are some things that are difficult to explain in English that was in German. But

all the same this reading did interest me and made me think critically and relate this topic to my

previous lessons. If this moral theory is read or just scanned, the reader could easily be confused and

mislead because this reading should be read from the first page to the last because there are some

topics that needs to be understood before the reader could understand the theory is really all about.

The example on this reading aid in understanding the theory and relates it to its readers. Like in

making promises or in suicide decisions, but still I am baffled in the second version of the categorical

imperative because of the “means” and “ends” language which confuses me. But in whole, this reading

contributed to my knowledge and understanding of other topics in which this was related.

Learning I learned that categorical imperative theory implies that the right thing to do should always be in

accordance with the universal law. And that goodwill is good in itself and is not good based on the

results.

Integrative Questions 1. Can you apply the Categorical Imperative in your decisions?

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2. If you were to apply this theory to your decisions, do you think that the consequence of it would

be good or would it be bad?

3. What do you mean by “means” and “ends”

4. What are some examples of goodwill if there are any?

5. Do you think that there are people who apply this theory in their life?

Review Questions 1. Explain Kant’s account of the good will

Immanuel Kant states that a goodwill a thing that is considered good without qualification. It is

not good because of its effects and outcomes; rather it is good in itself.

2. Distinguish between hypothetical and categorical imperatives

The hypothetical imperative is a maxim that does not conform with the universal law, while the

categorical imperative conforms with the universal law which means that a person’s maxim

should be the maxim of all others too if they were in that same situation.

3. State the first formulation of the categorical imperative (using the notion of the universal law),

and explain how Kant uses this rule to derive some specific duties toward self and others

The first formulation of the categorical imperative is that if a person decides on something, it

should be in accordance with the universal law. An example is when a person is about to commit

suicide, this maxim is not in line with the universal law because it contradicts itself and does not

fulfil the duty towards oneself. Another example is making promises to others in which you

would not keep; this maxim also is not in line with the universal law because it also contradicts

itself, promising something that you wouldn’t keep does not count as a promise.

4. State the second version of the categorical imperative (using the language of means and end)

and explain it.

The second version of the categorical imperative is that the end justifies the means, that human

beings could not be used as a means because they are rational beings which has a will of their

own and does not depend on nature.

Discussion Questions 1. Are the two versions of the categorical imperative just different expressions of one basic rule, or

are they two different rules? Defend your view.

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I think that the two versions of the categorical imperative are two different rules because in the

first categorical imperative, it states that the maxim of a person should be in accordance with

the universal law, while in the second version, it states that we should treat another person or

rational being not as a means but as an end.

2. Kant claims that an action that is not done from the motive of duty has no moral worth. Do you

agree or not? If not, give some counterexamples.

I don’t agree with Kant’s notion of an action that is not done from the motive of duty

and is acted upon other things has no moral worth. For me it does not necessarily mean that if

you do things based on the motive of duty, it already has a moral worth. For example, helping

the poor out of one’s goodwill or kindness, it is not motivated by duty, the person does not

think about his duty to others, rather he thinks about the well being and the interests of others.

In my opinion, this deed also deserves some moral worth because of what the person did was

from his heart and not only as a fulfilment or to finish his duty to others.

3. Some commentators think that the categorical imperative (particularly the first formulation) can

be used to justify non-moral or immoral actions. Is this a good criticism?

In my opinion this is a good criticism because categorical imperative is based on the universal

law on whether other persons would do the same thing if they are on the same situation. The

decision of the majority is not always correct, because you could justify immoral actions just

because the majority of people would do the same thing despite the fact that it is immoral.

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Happiness and Virtue

Aristotle

Quote “... for it is the mark of an educated man to look for precision in each class of

things just so as far as the nature of the subject admits”

Learning Expectation To learn what does Aristotle mean by Happiness and Virtue

How does Aristotle define Happiness and Virtue in contrast with other theories

Review Aristotle’s Happiness and Virtue was made even before all the theorists in the book were born,

but for me, Aristotle’s theory was the most appealing but is the most difficult to apply because it is hard

to find a mean in a situation and it varies from one person to the other. This concept was also

demonstrated in Buddhism wherein they follow the middle way which is neither a defect nor a

deficiency in something. For me, this theory makes a lot of sense because too much of something is bad,

likewise also the deficiency, but isn’t it that by not possessing an excess and deficiency in things mean

that it is perfect? This theory is similar to Utilitarianism in a way that they both argue that happiness is

an end, that all of us seek happiness. I think that this is the nature of human beings, but isn’t it that

some people does things such as sacrifice, in which they don’t do the things that makes them happy for

others to be happy?

In reading this theory, I also had some difficulty and again have to read the essay several times

to absorb what it means and also to answer the questions included in the reading. But this theory made

me think and made me criticize and to impose questions regarding the theory. It also contributed some

new knowledge for me and to know some other possibilities of being moral which in Aristotle’s idea, is

to be in the middle.

Learning I’ve learned how Aristotle defined happiness and virtue and on how he explained his theory of

the Middle Way.

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Integrative Questions 1. How does Aristotle’s concept of Happiness different from Utilitarianism?

2. What concept of Happiness do you consider as morally right?

3. In your opinion, can everyone be happy as opposed to what Aristotle said?

4. Is “a life of pleasure” that Aristotle is referring to is the same as Utilitarianism or more of

Hedonism?

5. Why do you think Aristotle said that philosophers would be much happier than anybody else?

Review Questions 1. What is happiness, according to Aristotle? How is it related to virtue? How is it related to

pleasure?

Aristotle defines happiness as "an activity of the soul in accordance with virtue", and that it is

not only pleasure, honor or wealth. Happiness is related to virtue in a way that, the happiness of

a person differs from others because of their virtue, from what they do and what their nature is,

the happiness of one person would possibly mean nothing to others. Also, stated in the book,

"With those who identify happiness with virtue or some one virtue our account is in harmony;

for to virtue belongs virtuous activity", an example of which, also in stated in the book, is the

Olympic Games, where the most beautiful and the strongest are not crowned but those who

compete so those who act win, and rightly win the noble and good things in life. And to relate

happiness to pleasure, Aristotle said that those who are happy have a pleasant life, pleasant

meaning, is a lover of something. A person should not have a conflict in their pleasures, if they

do then that means that their pleasures are not by nature pleasant. People who are lovers of

what is noble find things that are by nature pleasant, and these are considered virtuous actions

by Aristotle. And to quote Aristotle on this "Happiness than is the best, noblest, and most

pleasant thing in the world".

2. How does Aristotle explain moral virtue? Give some examples.

Aristotle explained moral virtue as "a result of training and habit", but he also explained that

none of these moral virtue naturally arises in us because no thing the exists could have a habit

that contradicts its own nature. One good example of his is a stone, which naturally moves

downward and couldn't be trained to go upwards no matter how you throw it up. Another is

fire, it always goes upward, and it is impossible to train or to even make it go downward

because it is its nature.

3. Is it possible for everyone in our society to be happy, as Aristotle explains it? If not, who cannot

be happy?

It is not possible for everyone in our society to be happy as Aristotle explained because there

are children and babies that are not yet capable of doing virtuous acts, according to Aristotle,

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those children who are called happy are just congratulated by reason of the hopes that we have

for them. To be able to be happy, a person must go through a lot of things and changes which

children haven't experienced yet and you cannot call a person happy yet because even the most

successful persons could fall and be miserable.

Discussion Questions: 1. Aristotle characterizes a life of pleasure as suitable for beasts. But what, if anything, is wrong

with a life of pleasure?

Well in my opinion, a life of pleasure is a good life but it makes a person lax, lazy and bored

because you don't have to work hard and do things that you don't like just to have pleasure.

Also for me, not all pleasures are good or is good for a person because it is merely an indulgence

and as Aristotle said, anything in excess or in deficiency won't give you happiness. If you are

living a life of pleasure, then you must have all the material things that you want and have all

the things that you say be done, or something like that, and you won't think of anything else

than how to have more pleasure. I think this would make a person selfish and insensitive to

other persons around him and others who needs help because he/she is concerned only about

his/her satisfaction and pleasure.

2. Aristotle claims that the philosopher will be happier than anyone else. Why is this? Do you agree

or not?

For me, the meaning of happiness differs from one person to another. Aristotle could claim that

a philosopher will be happier than anyone else, because he has his own meaning of happiness.

Well a I can say in his context, I agree on this matter because philosophers does live a life with

virtue and their habits are aligned with their nature. It is wonderful that you are the one who

knows things rather than you are the one who is asking. But in my opinion, anyone could be

happy as long as they are satisfied with what they have and are the ones who give happiness to

others.

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The Nature and Value of Rights

Joel Feinberg

Quote “To respect a person then or to think of him as possessed of human dignity,

simply is to think of him as a potential maker of claims.”

Learning Expectation To learn what is a “right”

To understand its nature and value

Review What I liked about Joel Feinberg’s reading is on how he explains his theory, he uses a language

that is easy to understand and is somewhat not formal compared to the other readings. He also has

some examples which really help in understanding and applying the theory to various situations.

Another thing that caught my attention was the apart when Feinberg somewhat criticizes Immanuel

Kant in saying that actions that are done based on motive of duty has moral worth, in which I also

disagree with. Like what Feinburg says, I also believe that moral worth is not exclusive only on actions

that was done based on the motive of duty, compassionate actions also deserves to have moral worth

because people who are doing these kind of acts does them because they want to help and not because

they have to help. One thing that interests me is on how he coined his terms like the “personal desert”, I

don’t understand why it is called as such or is it intended to be “personal dessert” in which a person

does those extra things to have a bonus or to have a treat from his boss or from anyone.

Learning I learned the importance and the relation of rights and duties, and the meaning of personal

desert. The rest of the things that I’ve learned could be seen below.

Integrative Questions 1. How would you react if your personal desert is not appreciated?

2. In what scenarios could claim-right be applied?

3. Is there any period in history that Nowheresville seemed to exist?

4. Is the appreciation of personal desert moral?

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5. Do you agree with Feinberg’s position regarding the doctrine of the logical correlativity of rights

and duties?

Review Questions 1. Describe Nowheresville. How is this world different from our world?

According to Joel Feinberg, Nowheresville is a world like our own except that people don’t have

rights.

2. Explain the doctrine of the logical correlativity of rights and duties. What is Feinberg’s position

on this doctrine?

The doctrine of the logical correlativity of rights and duties states that all duties entail other

people’s rights and all rights entail other people’s duties. Meaning your duty is caused by the

right of other people, and the right of other people are your duty. Feinberg does not agree with

this doctrine because according to him duty is not something that you should do because it is

the right of other people but it is what you must do for others which surpasses what that person

could demand from you which is not a right.

3. How does Feinberg explain the concept of personal desert? How would personal desert work in

Nowheresville?

According to Feinsberg, personal desert is something that is done by a person that is not

expected or is expressed in an agreement which is not expected of him and could or could not

be compensated. In Nowheresville, the personal desert is just like in our world but if the

response to their desert is not as they expect, they do not have the right to complain.

4. Explain the notion of a sovereign right-monopoly. How would this work in Nowheresville

according to Feinsberg?

An example would best explain a sovereign right-monopoly. Using Feinsberg’s example, when

David killed Uriah, he claims that he have only sinned against God but not against his fellow

human. This could work in Nowheresville wherein the governing body is the one who accepts

the apology because the person who erred considers his mistake or sin as only against the

governing body but not against the person that he hurt or erred.

5. What are claim-rights? Why does Feinberg think they are morally important?

Claim-rights is something that could be demanded from another person whom has a duty to the

one who is demanding. Feinberg think that they are morally important because claiming is what

gives rights their moral significance according to Feinberg.

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Discussion Questions 1. Does Feinberg make a convincing case for the importance of rights? Why or why not?

Feinberg makes a convincing case for the importance of rights because he portrayed it in an

example wherein he creates an imaginary world called Nowheresville in which the people living

in that place don’t have rights. His example makes it much easier to appreciate the importance

of rights by providing a scenario which makes us compare a world without rights and our world.

2. Can you give a noncircular definition of claim-right?

Claim-rights is something that could be demanded from another person whom has a duty to the

one who is demanding.

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Taking Rights Seriously

Ronald Dworkin

Quote “If the Government does not take rights seriously, then it does not take law

seriously either”

Learning Expectation The meaning of “rights” according to Dworkin

How the theory relates with other theories of Kant and Mill

Review Ronald Dworkin explained his theory like Kant’s Categorical Imperative, it also challenging to

understand his idea because if you skipped some parts of the reading, it is easy to be misled and to be

confused about the theory. Dworkin’s essay requires the reader to read it several times to be able to

grasp his concept and to relate it to other theories. But even if it is hard to understand, it is really a good

reading because it discusses how the government defines the rights of its citizens and the basis which

they lie on. And the idea of the individual right, which I think is the strong sense of right and the right of

the majority which is somewhat like Utilitarianism. In my opinion, the right of the majority should be

used in defining the rights of the citizens because it considers the safety and the rights of others. It also

somehow expresses equality because in considering the individual right of a person, it is like favoring

that person’s right and neglecting other persons’ rights. It is also like egoism which the self-interest of a

person is considered over others. To summarize it, Dworkin’s Taking Rights Seriously is a good reading

and it enables the reader to think critically and to relate it to his self to be able to further understand it.

But still you have to read it several times over if you really want to absorb the meaning and the

implication of his ideas.

Learning I learned two kinds of rights and on how it influences each other, also on how the government could

define the right of its citizens.

Integrative Questions 1. Do you think that the strong sense of right dignifies a person?

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2. Does it necessary follow that a moral right should be a legal right?

3. What do you think would happen in legal rights were purely based on moral rights?

4. Is the right of the majority more important than an individual’s right?

5. Do you think that a person should break the law if he thinks that he is right in expressing his

rights?

Review Questions 1. What does Dworkin mean by right in the strong sense? What rights in this sense are protected by

the U.S. Constitution?

According to Dworkin, a right is where if a people have a right to do something, then it is wrong

to interfere with them.

2. Distinguish between legal and moral rights. Give some examples of legal rights that are not

moral rights, and moral rights that are not legal rights.

Legal rights is what the law provides to the citizens to claim and would correspond to a lawsuit

when violated, while moral rights are rights that are dictated by morality and is not often

included in legal rights and does not result into a lawsuit but rather have a social consequence

of some sort depending on the situation. An example of a legal right that is not a moral right is

the freedom of speech, a citizen is entitle to say his own opinions or concerns or anything he

likes even if it does violate the moral right of others or do harm to other people. Another

example in which moral rights are not legal rights is equality, morality implies that all men

should be treated equally, a person could assert that he should be treated equally as with other

people, but he cannot file a lawsuit regarding equality because there is no existing law that

makes equality a legal right.

3. What are the two models of how a government might define the rights of its citizens? Which

does Dworkin find more attractive?

According to Dworkin, the first model is having a balance between the rights of an individual and

the demands of society at large. The second one is about political equality, it states that the

weaker members of the community is entitled to the same rights as the more powerful

members.

4. According to Dworkin, what two important ideas are behind the institution of rights?

The first idea according to Dworkin is considering the individual rights of the citizens, which in

the strong sense is a right against the Government. And second is the rights of the majority in

which the government considers the risk to other people if they are to consider the individual

right of a person.

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Discussion Questions 1. Does a person have a right to break the law? Why or why not?

A person has a right to break the law if he believes that it is the right thing to do to exercise his

right and does not violate the rights of others.

2. Are rights in the strong sense compatible with Mill’s Utilitarianism?

I don’t think that rights in the strong sense is compatible with Mill’s Utilitarianism because rights

as defined by Dworkin in the strong sense is if a person has a right to do something, then it is

wrong to prevent him from doing it. This would mean that if that person’s right could harm

other people or could result in the unhappiness of other people then it would contradict the

theory of Utilitarianism because it does result in the happiness of the majority, rather the

happiness of an individual is not greater than the unhappiness that his action does to others.

3. Do you think that Kant would accept rights in the strong sense or not?

I think that Kant would accept rights in the strong sense because this theory rests on Kant’s idea

of treating individuals with dignity and the idea of political equality. By respecting the right of a

person in the strong sense, it somehow gives that person dignity in the sense that you “respect”

his right whether by not interfering with it.

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A Theory of Justice

John Rawls

Quote “The only reason for circumscribing the rights defining liberty and making men’s

freedom less extensive than it might otherwise be is that these equal rights as

institutionally defines would interfere with one another.”

Learning Expectation To understand Rawl’s Theory of Justice

To relate it to other theories

Review John Rawl’s Theory of Justice is an interesting theory because his idea is somewhat like

communism because of the idea of “equality” of the rights and duties but it differs by the distribution of

wealth and income, he states that by distributing wealth and authoritative positions, it could benefit all

the people concerned, while in communism wealth and duties are distributed equally, but the problem

with communism is that it preaches that all communists should be equal and there is not hierarchy of

command, but they fail in executing communism because they do have a leader, like in North Korea,

their leader is treated like a King, even a descendant of gods. This contradicts the very idea of equality in

communism. While in Rawl’s theory, those positions are open to all and the well-being of all concerned

are achieved by their cooperation despite the inequalities in wealth and income. One thing that the

reader should take into consideration is that the inequality is only just, when the more fortunate one

improves the situation of the less fortunate others.

Rawl discusses his theory clearly and could be understood easily compared to other theory that

takes more than one reading for the reader to absorb the essence of the idea. Like the Nowheresville of

Joel Feinberg, Rawl also presented a scenario or another world that serves as an example and basis for

discussion which effectively aids in the reader’s understanding. All in all A Theory of Justice is an

interesting and mind enriching topic.

Learning I’ve learned many things like the two principles of justice, and the original position which was

the basis of the concepts that are discussed in this reading and also the implication of this theory on

some of the modern issues.

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Integrative Questions 1. Do you think it is possible to apply Rawl’s principles of justice in our current society?

2. Is it possible that by having inequalities in the distribution of wealth and income that all people

concerned could benefit equally?

3. Do you agree that all people should have equal rights and duties?

4. Isn’t that equality in wealth and income an obvious answer in having equal rights and duties?

5. Does Rawl’s theory portrays a kind or a modified theory of Utilitarianism?

Review Questions 1. Carefully explain Rawl’s conception of the original position.

Rawl explained the conception of the original position as a purely hypothetical situation which is

characterized to be able to facilitate conception of justice. The conception of justice in this

situation is possible because there is a veil of ignorance that makes a person unaware of his own

social status, strength, weaknesses, and such. In this original position, all persons seem to be

equal and the agreements that are made within it are fair.

2. State and explain Rawl’s first principle of justice.

The first principle of justice stated by Rawl is that “each person is to have an equal right to the

most extensive basic liberty compatible with a similar liberty for others”. This simply means that

all persons should have the same rules and liberties should be applied equally to everyone.

3. State and explain the second principle. Which principle has priority such that it cannot be

sacrificed?

The second principle of justice is “Social and economic inequalities are to be arranged so that

they are both reasonably expected to be everyone’s advantage, and attached to positions and

offices open to all...”. This second principle states that everyone should benefit from the

inequality in wealth and income such that the more fortunate ones should improve the situation

of the less fortunate.

The first principle of justice is prioritized and cannot be sacrificed because the equality of liberty

and opportunity should also apply in the social and economic inequalities to be able to make it

an advantage to all.

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Discussion Questions 1. On the first principle, each person has an equal right to the most extensive basic liberty as long

as this does not interfere with a similar liberty for others. What does this allow people to do?

Does it mean, For example, that people have a right to engage in homosexual activities as long

as they don’t interfere with other? Can people produce and view pornography if it does not

restrict anyone’s freedom? Are people allowed to take drugs in the privacy of their homes?

The first principle allows liberties and rights that are defined by the given rules in the first place.

What they are allowed to do is limited by the rights and duties that are established and followed

in major institutions of the society. It does not mean that people have the right to engage in

homosexual activities just because they don’t interfere with other people’s rights, they are not

allowed to engage in this kind of act because there is a moral rights that are violated by this kind

of activities. People could not also produce and view pornography even if it does not restrict

anyone’s freedom because in the first place, the essence of freedom is doing what is right, by

producing and viewing pornography, freedom is already violated in such acts. And also in the

issue of taking drugs in the privacy of their homes, this also does not fall under the first principle

because this activity goes against the law which prohibits the use of drugs and is already

established and followed by major institutions.

2. Is it possible for free and rational persons in the original position to agree upon different

distribution of wealth and income rather than an unequal distribution? That is, why wouldn’t

they adopt socialism rather than capitalism? Isn’t socialism just as rational as capitalism?

It is not possible for the free and rational persons in the original position to agree upon different

distribution of wealth and income because everyone’s well-being in that situation depends on

the cooperation the people involved. That cooperation is brought about by the inequality in the

distribution of wealth and income, and that those who have the greater benefits would improve

the situation of the unfortunate persons. If they adopt socialism, then the cooperation of the

people would not exist because all of them are given equal wealth and income. In my opinion

socialism is not as rational as capitalism because in capitalism, people who are wealthy are

those who are compensated because of their hard work, while in socialism, there is no

difference between the compensation because all people are treated equally and are given

equal wealth and income regardless of the effort exerted by different individuals.

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The Need for More than Justice

Annette Baier

Quote “The best moral theory is one that harmonizes justice and care”

Learning Expectation To learn why Annette Baier asserts the need for more than justice

To discover what other things are needed besides justice

Review Annette Baier presented a theory that attacks the patriarchal theories namely Kant’s and Rawl’s

justice perspective. She states that the care perspective is also needed besides justice. Her theory

somewhat defends women and other oppressed people that are left out from other theories concerning

morality. One thing that I liked about this reading is that they effectively defended the woman’s side

which is the care perspective and asserts that even if women are less irrational than men, that they do

not possess “a legal sense”, this is not because they are mentally inferior, it is just because women views

things differently from men because of their experiences and their duties that are different from men

who were offered a privileged role in the society. As other reading, Baier’s The Need for More Than

Justice is not easy and yet not hard to understand, in reading this theory we need to concentrate and

picture a scenario on our imagination which Baier portrays to fully understand the concepts.

Learning I learned how Baier and other moralists defended that there is a need more than just justice,

which is the care perspective in which the people who were not included in the justice perspective

should be included in the modern moral theories.

Integrative Questions 1. Do you agree with Baier’s theory that there is a need for more than just justice?

2. In what way does Kant disregards women and others who are not privileged people?

3. In your opinion, is justice and care enough for our society to be peaceful?

4. What is your position regarding “reason over emotion”?

5. Do you think that male and female wisdom could have a union or be “married”?

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Review Questions 1. Distinguish between the justice and care perspectives. According to Gilligan, how do these

perspectives develop?

Baier argues that the justice perspective is not enough to be a moral theory because it overlooks

inequalities between people, has an unrealistic view of freedom of choice, and it ignores the

importance of moral emotions such as love, while the care perspective is a felt concern for the

good of others and for community with them.

2. Explain Kohlberg’s theory of moral development. What criticisms do Gilligan and Baier make of

this theory?

Kohlberg’s theory of moral development has three stages; the first is the pre-conventional level

in which what matters is the pleasing of the parent or authority figure. Second is the

conventional level, which the child already tries to fit into a group and follows its rules and

standards. And last is the post-conventional critical level, in which those rules are put to the

tests like that of a Utilitarian or Kantian kind. Gilligan says that Kohlberg’s stages of moral

development are more of a progression of mutual respect and not of mutual care. Baier says

that the care perspective in Kohlberg’s theory of moral development would only be an option

and is not included on the “minimum” which is justice and rights, so the care perspective is left

only as an extra for those who are willing to proceed to responsibility and care.

3. Baier says that there are three important differences between Kantian liberals and their critics.

What are these differences?

The three important differences between Kantian liberals and their critics are the following, the

relative weight put on relationships between equals, the relative weight put on freedom of

choice, and on the authority of intellect over emotions.

4. Why does Baier attack the Kantian view that the reason should control unruly passions?

Baier attacks the Kantian view that the reason should control unruly passions is because reason

is not the basis for becoming the person that we should be, be it the role of a parent, or want in

any relationship. Like in the case of parenting, as Baier’s example, a father should let his reason

preside over his emotions when their children enrage them, but in mothers, emotions should

preside over reason because they have to love their children and not just to control their

emotions.

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Discussion Questions 1. What does Baier mean when she speaks of the need “to transvalue the values of our patriarchal

past”? Do new values replace the old ones? If so, then do we abandon the old values of justice,

freedom, and rights?

Baier means by transvaluing the values of the patriarchal past is the use of the values of the

patriarchs in asserting the claims of women and other unprivileged people. The new values do

not replace the new ones but is rather used to defend the right of the oppressed. Also, we do

not abandon the old values of justice, freedom and rights, we just modified and added some

essential details to it that would include the women, the black, the children, and those who

were marginalized in the traditional theory of justice.

2. What is wrong with the Kantian view that extends equal rights to all rational beings, including

women and minorities? What would Baier say? What do you think?

The Kantian view dictates that women are incapable of legislation or formulation of law, also

could not vote, and needs the guidance of men who are considered as “more rational” as to

women. To quote what Baier said to this view “so much the worse for the male fixation on the

special skill of drafting legislation, for the bureaucratic mentality of the rule worship, and for the

male exaggeration of the importance of independence over interdependence”.

3. Baier seems to reject the Kantian emphasis on freedom of choice. Granted, we do not choose our

parents, but still don’t we have freedom of choice about many things, and isn’t this very

important?

We have a freedom of choice about many things, which is very important because by deciding

things for ourselves, we would learn lessons from the mistakes that we’ve made from bad

decisions rather than having a parent or someone else who decides for us. We should be the

one who has the decision because we are the ones who would suffer the consequence or the

result of that decision and no one knows ourselves better but us.

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Source

White, J. E. CONTEMPORARY MORAL PROBLEMS (SEVENTH EDITION).

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Copyright Receipts

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Use Case Diagram of Existing System

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Copyright Registration System Use Case Narrative

Fill-up Copyright Form Identification summary

Title: Fill-up Copyright Form

Summary: This use case allows the applicant to fill-in the needed information on the form

Actors: Applicant, Copyright Staff

Creation Date: ??? Date of Update: ???

Version: ??? Person in Charge:

Flow of Events

Preconditions:

1. The National Library should be open

2. The material that to be copyrighted is finished

3. There should be an applicant

Main Success Scenario:

1. The applicant gets an application form from the Copyright office

2. Then the applicant should fill-in the information on the form

3. The applicant should purchase a stamp

4. The affidavit should be notarized

5. The applicant gives back the form to the Copyright office

Alternative Sequences:

1. The applicant already has a form

1. The applicant has already completed a form which is downloaded from the Library’s site

2. The applicant should proceed in purchasing a stamp

Error Sequences:

1. The affidavit hasn’t been notarized

a. The affidavit isn’t notarized because there is no notary public available

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b. Use case ends

2. There is no stamp to be purchased

a. There are no stamps available in the store

b. Use case ends

3. There is no form to be given

a. There are no forms to be given to the applicant

b. Use case ends

Pay Copyright Fee Identification summary

Title: Pay Copyright Fee

Summary: This use case allows the applicant to pay the copyright fee needed to proceed in

registering

Actors: Applicant, Copyright Staff, Cashier

Creation Date: ??? Date of Update: ???

Version: ??? Person in Charge:

Flow of Events

Preconditions:

1. The cashier should be open

2. The copyright office is still open

3. The applicant should have a filled-up form

Main Success Scenario:

1. The copyright staff signs the form and indicates the amount to be paid

2. The applicant pays the copyright fee to the cashier

3. The cashier issues a receipt to the applicant

Alternative Sequences:

1. There are some fields needed to be filled-up

1. The applicant has left a blank field

2. The applicant fills up the blank and submits the form back to the copyright staff

Error Sequences:

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1. The cashier is closed

a. The cashier closed before the applicant could pay the copyright fee

b. Use case ends

File Copyright Request Identification summary

Title: File Copyright Request

Summary: This use case allows the applicant to file a copyright request to the copyright office

Actors: Applicant, Copyright Staff

Creation Date: ??? Date of Update: ???

Version: ??? Person in Charge:

Flow of Events

Preconditions:

1. The material should have two copies

2. The applicant have paid the copyright fee

3. The form is verified by the copyright staff

Main Success Scenario:

1. The applicant submits the form, material, and receipt to the copyright staff

2. The copyright staff files the form and material to be copyrighted

3. The copyright staff returns the receipt with a claim stub to the applicant

Alternative Sequences:

1. The applicant has only one copy of the material

1. The applicant has one copy of the material

2. The applicant should provide one more copy of the material

Error Sequences:

1. The copyright office is already closed

a. The copyright office is already closed when the applicant returned

b. Use case ends

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Ask Copyright Information Identification summary

Title: Ask Copyright Information

Summary: This use case allows the applicant to ask for information from the copyright staff

Actors: Applicant, Copyright Staff

Creation Date: ??? Date of Update: ???

Version: ??? Person in Charge:

Flow of Events

Preconditions:

1. The copyright staff should be present

2. The national library should be open

Main Success Scenario:

1. The applicant asks a question to the copyright staff

2. The staff answers the applicant

Alternative Sequences:

1. The applicant has another question

1. The applicant asks another question to the copyright staff

2. The staff answers the applicant

Error Sequences:

1. The copyright staff is not present

a. The applicant goes in the copyright office and the copyright staff is not present

b. Use Case ends

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Activity Diagram of Existing System

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Use Case Diagram of Proposed System