Jeremy Brett

Ethical Framework Utilitarianism is an ethical theory that I feel aligned to personally. Utilitarianism states that the ethical choice is the one that provides the greatest amount of good for the greatest amount of people, even if that choice isn’t the best for everyone. Much of our politics are conducted using this approach, making decisions and laws that increase the amount of good while also reducing the amount of harm that is done. I believe this to be the most practical approach to most…

Morality is a system of moral conduct, or conformity to ideals of \correct human conduct. In the novel Anthem by Ayn Rand, one system of morality was so distorted that Equality creates his own system of morals. Throughout Anthem, Equality, the narrator, goes through a series of events that led him to change his view of morality. At the end of Anthem, the collectivist society’s view of morality remains the same while Equality’s view of morality is changed to ideals of right human conduct.…

Psychologists have long classified happiness, or eudemonia as one amongst a few basic, primary emotions – happiness is our immediate, instinctive, and internal response to a situation. Yet, the texts we have studied share a common thread of discussing individual happiness in terms of the happiness of the collective. These authors come to the consensus that happiness product of service to the state, being virtuous, and keeping ones’ desires in check. In Thucydides “Pericles’ Funeral Oration”,…

Moral Reasoning Cognitive Moral Development theory was first developed by Jean Piaget in order to explain the mental processes that occur when deriving meaning from experience. From this theory. Lawrence Kohlberg developed the hypothesis that the higher the moral reasoning, the higher the ethical decision. Moral intent, also referred to as moral reasoning (Hunt & Vitell, 1986), is derived from an individual’s values. It most often comes from religious studies, individual thought or…

Discuss any objections to hedonism of which you are aware of and explain whether there is an alternative theory of well being that is preferable to hedonism. Within the following essay I will discuss objections to hedonism and I will further explain whether there is an alternative theory of well being that is preferable to hedonism. Firstly we have to identify what hedonism is, hedonism has been typically expressed by certain quotes as “Pleasure is the only thing worth seeking for its own sake”…

The key features of the argument on Utilitarianism developed by John Mill focus on his support for valuing utilitarian as a moral theory. He first defines what he believes utilitarian means in which he states: “Actions are right in proportion, as they tend to promote happiness, wrong, as they tend to promote the reverse of happiness (Mills, 90).” John Mill believes that what is considered to be moral can neither be a right or wrong action. In order to determine whether an action is right or…

Moral Dilemmas of the Trolley Case Introduction The Principle of Utility The Principle of Utility, or the Greatest Happiness Principle, actions that are the right actions when the result of the action brings about happiness. If the action results in the opposite of happiness, the action is not in accordance with the Principle of Utility. As John Stuart Mill explains it in the book Utilitarianism, “By happiness is intended pleasure, and the absence of pain; by unhappiness, pain, and the…

John Stuart Mill’s theory of higher and lower pleasures can be a tricky one. In fact, Mill defines happiness as the absence of pain, and unhappiness as the consequence of pain and the absence of pleasure. In other words, in his view, happiness is directly, related to pleasure. However, Mill points out the fact that not all pleasures are the same. For instance, he claims that intellectual pleasures are with no doubt safer than physical pleasures. As humans, we tend to chase the pleasures of…

The proper route to obtain eternal happiness is a controversial subject for many. Should one constantly focus on his own personal happiness, or should one make the happiness of others his priority? What if the individual who endeavors never-ending euphoria is indeed the most broken inside? This concept was the chief issue in the autobiography of John Stuart Mill, a 19th century English philosopher. Mill's reasoning of just 'going with the flow' by concentrating less about personal happiness is…

John Mill’s approach to justice is a qualitative approach based on the foundation of utilitarianism, which is what creates the greatest happiness or the most good for people is the right thing to do. This approach is teleological in so the ends or happiness justify the means or actions are in proportion. Mill is focused on rule-utilitarianism, which does not test each individual action directly by the first principle of utility, but instead, the individual act is just if it conforms to a…