Philosophy 2: Society and Values  

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 claims by applying Mill's Utilitarianism.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ethical Claims (a through f):

 

a) Professors should give out A's because that makes students happy.

 

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

 

c) People shouldn't be generous.

 

d) Watching Gladiators fight lions is morally okay.

 

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

 

f) Showering for an hour to help undo daily stress is morally good. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 different ethical situations.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2) Stipulate (make up) a situation where your group's ethical claim would make sense. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3) Identify the relevant individuals whose pains and pleasures would matter according to Mill.    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4) Identify the relevant base pains and pleasures that those individuals are likely to encounter (no more than ten). 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5) Identify the relevant intellectual pains and pleasures that those individuals are likely to encounter (no more than ten). 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6) Determine whether or not Mill would find your group's ethical claim, and its corresponding situation, morally good or morally bad.      

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7) Present your explanation in 6), above to the class.