Consequentialism

In the NPR article, “A Mother’s Death Tested Reporter’s Thinking about End-of-Life Care”, Charles Ornstein writes about his family’s decisions during his mother’s end-of-life care. The NPR article details the decision that the Ornstein family made in the course of Harriet Ornstein’s end-of-life care to discontinue “aggressive care” and remove a ventilator that prolonged Harriet’s life (Ornstein). In this essay, we argue that the final decision made by the Ornstein family to remove the…

Peter Singer makes a substantial argument regarding animal ethics, and although the term ‘specicism’ has existed for some time, Singer really brings popular attention towards it. In order to make a firm decision on the plausibility of Singer’s argument, I will be looking closely at Shelley Kagan, who criticises Singer’s argument in itself, as well as an earlier writer who discussed animal ethics, namely, Immanuel Kant. By looking at critics of Singer’s ideas, we can then discuss which view is…

Response to Question 1 from Utilitarian Perspective As the head of the pediatric surgery, I would recommend that the Emma and Sophia be surgically separated. According to the Utilitarian approach, which holds that, an act is right if it brings the maximum amount of happiness and minimizes suffering (Edges & Groves, 2006, p. 35). In order words, we should act in a way that would maximize the overall happiness. Happiness comes from the feeling of immense pleasure and absence of pain. Therefore I…

Philosophy is the application of ethical approaches to issues, controversies, theories, and ideas. It is in one’s nature to seek answers to questions which are asked. It is also in one’s nature to question and decide if an idea or ideal is right or wrong, but in the case of ethics; permissible or impermissible. In this text, we are going to use these terms as acceptable or permitted and vice-versa. In this essay, we will be analyzing the article, “A Defense of Abortion” by philosopher, Judith…

Heroes have found their way into our oral tradition and the written record throughout human time. In fact, one of our oldest written text is the Epic of Gilgamesh. From fireside whispers of folk tales, to Greek mythos and war stories, maybe it is the human need to have hope personified that has mankind setting individuals on to pedestals. Flawed, or shiny perfection, they represent the ideal of a savior from whatever harrowing situation we are in or our minds can create. Yet, heroes are…

Do I think utilitarianism, deontology, and virtue theory is right? Utilitarianism is acts that make people happy are right, and acts that cause pain to people are bad actions. Deontology is where an act must be done from a sense of duty to have moral worth. Virtue theory is says people must act how other people would act in that situation. These theories all seem to have one flaw in common. The only consider the actions of someone and not the intentions as well. I think actions are very…

Equal Pay for Equal Work Introduction Is it really right that women are not paid equally to men? Women should be entitled to proper pay for equal work they do. In “2014 the typical woman working full time all year in the U.S. earned 79% of what the typical man earned working full time all year” (Grimshaw, 2014). “Women make up nearly ½ of the U.S. Labor force and there are a growing number of bread winners within their families” (Soyars, 2014). More women are also working positions and fields…

Utilitarian Ethics is defined as the ethics of beneficial consequences or outcomes. It also states that no action is morally wrong or right in itself but depends on the circumstances. Happiness, pleasure and the absence of pain, is the only thing universally desirable. Some actions can be justified on utilitarian principles as being morally justified if it obtains the maximum overall happiness. Blake Mycoskie, the founder of Toms shoes, uses child poverty as his business model. Poverty will…

Through consequentialism, there are farmers who are pro GMO seeds and substance because it has in away saved their crops from dying. For instance seeds have been created to be round-up ready, killing any weeds that would harm their crop. Farmers have allowed themselves…

Millions of people are currently living in absolute poverty, while there are those who have the financial capacity to use their assets to acquire not essential items. Peter Singer believes that those who can afford to donate a sum of their money to poverty relief are morally required to do so. This paper will summarize Singer 's Rich and Poor and demonstrate how failing to save a drowning kid is not the same as failing to donate to poverty relief. Peter Singer argues that those who are affluent…