Philosophy 20: Ethics

Pierce College

Department of History, Philosophy, & Sociology

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Group Exercise for Mill's Utilitarianism     

 

 

 

 

(Notes on the importance of group exercises.) 

 

 

 

 

 

In this activity each group will work on one of the following ethical situations by applying Mill's Utilitarianism.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ethical Situations (a through e):

 

a) Professors should not give out F's because that does not satisfy the greatest number of people's desire for intellectual pleasure.

 

b) Parking spots should be reserved for those who show up early only.

 

c) People shouldn't worry about being generous.

 

d) Watching Gladiators fight lions is morally okay.

 

e) Cheating is okay, as long as you don't get caught.

 

 

 

 

 

In groups:

 

1) Choose an ethical situation from that list to center your discussion on.  (We'll do this step together as a whole class so that each group is working on a different ethical situation.)

 

2) Determine whether or not Mill would agree with your ethical situation.

 

3) Prepare to explain why Mill would agree or not with that ethical situation to someone who doesn't understand Mill.