Ethics [Thursday, January 19, 2012, 1st period]

[sith_happened]

When the class arrived, they would find their names on desks--Anakin had come up with a seating chart for the rest of the semester.

He was holding a giant mug of (decaf, Rory could tell if he was sneaking caffeine while she couldn't have any) coffee as he entered the room and gave his TAs papers to pass out, then went to the board and wrote out: "Utilitarianism: it is the greatest happiness of the greatest number that is the measure of right and wrong," then turned to face his students. "Do you think this is true? If what gives the majority pleasure is watching Christians getting eaten by lions, or a four-day-marathon of that show about the orange people who live in New Jersey, does that make it right? What will protect the rights of the individual in a society ruled by utilitarianism--who in this example might be a Christian who enjoys PBS--or do those really matter?"

Comments

Re: Answer the discussion question! [1/19]

[ancientbschamp.livejournal.com]

"I haven't watched that show," Gabrielle admitted, because it seemed like the disclaimer was important. "But it doesn't seem like a harmful kind of thing. The lions . . . that would worry me. Nobody should get that used to bloodshed. Not as entertainment."

She considered for a moment longer, chewing idly at a thumbnail as she did.

"It's a useful thing to look at," she finally decided. "Understanding what gives the majority pleasure, that is. But no, I don't think that ought to mean that makes it right. I've seen public executions . . . I've felt the stands shake when the crowd roared for a man's head --" she'd had the means to save him literally in her hands at the time, and done nothing for the sake of the greater good, which still weighed on her but she wasn't about to share that -- "and just because they love the spectacle, no matter how much they might think it's right, no matter how much he might have deserved to be held accountable for his deeds -- which isn't necessarily true, because gods know there is such a thing as propaganda -- the fact still remains that they're taking pleasure from someone's death. That . . . is something I couldn't approve of."

Re: Answer the discussion question! [1/19]

[sith_happened]

Anakin nodded. "I've been at those sorts of arenas myself," he said.

Normally as the main attraction. Anakin lived an interesting life.

"It's cultural acceptable in many places, but it doesn't mean it's right. So I'm guessing this means you're not a fan of the concept of utilitarianism."

Re: Answer the discussion question! [1/19]

[ancientbschamp.livejournal.com]

Gabrielle shook her head. "Well, that's not entirely true. I like the concept. I just don't know if it can be carried out ideally."