What is the Right Thing to Do? Chapter 1

Define utilitarianism.

• Belief that choices that bring the least amount of happiness is the best choice.

• Belief that choices that bring the greatest amount of happiness is the best choice.

• Belief that choices that bring the greatest amount of happiness for the greatest amount of people is the best choice.

• Belief that choices that bring the least amount of happiness for the least amount of people is the best choice.

What is a dilemma?

• a situation in which a difficult choice has to be made between two or more alternatives, especially equally undesirable ones.

• a situation in which an easy choice has to be made between two or more alternatives, especially equally undesirable ones.

• a situation in which 'dile' lets ma know. Ya know? Ma?

• a what-a-what?

According to the book, what aspect about pushing the heavy man seems different from swerving to the train track with one worker?

Choose the best answer.

• There is no difference. Both is murder.

• Something about pushing a heavy man without the man's consent makes it seem like murder.

• Something about swerving and killing the one railway worker seems less cruel than pushing the heavy man. I do not know what it is.

• Both men are being killed against their will (without consent); however, in the case of pushing the heavy man, one has to actively push someone who is not involved in the situation. Meanwhile, in the first scenario, you feel like you have no choice but to make a difficult choice between 5 and 1.

What happened in the actual story of Goatherds in Afghanistan?

• They all survived and lived happily after.

• No one survived.

• Only 1 of the soldiers survived. He happened to be the captain.

• Only 1 of the soldiers survived. He happened to be the one who suggested letting the prisoners go.

What is the dilemma that the soldiers faced pertaining to the goatherds?

• They had to decide whether to let the goatherds go or to kill them.

• They had to decide whether to add them on fortnite friend list or to ignore them.

• They had to decide whether to kidnap them or to let them go.

• They had to decide whether to take them to America or to leave them there.

According to the text, in what situation is torture justified ( made okay)?

• The text uses the example of a terrorist that deserves to be tortured for bombing America.

• The text uses the example of a terrorist that should be tortured to obtain classified information on a potential bomb threat in order to prevent greater danger.

• The text uses the example of a terrorist that deserves to be tortured for being a terrorist.

• The text uses the example of criminals who deserve to be tortured for their crimes.

In ancient Rome, they threw Christians to the lions in the Coliseum for amusement of the crowd. Why does this fall under a utilitarian ideal?

• Christians suffer excruciating pain as the lions maul and devour them. But think about the collective ecstasy of the cheering spectators packing the Coliseum. Thousands of people obtain happiness as the expense of several Christian victims.

• The Christians suffered a little bit, but by the end, they performed miracles and saved everyone in the Coliseum.

• Christians bring the most happiness to the most amount of people.

• It wasn't. It did not bring the greatest amount of happiness to the greatest amount of people.

What was the utilitarian argument for dealing with the beggars in the city?

• Give them free food to increase their happiness, which will ultimately increase the happiness of everyone else.

• Do away with them into a facility where they will not be visible and vandalize the city, which ultimately increases the happiness of everyone else in the city for not having to deal with them.

• Kill all of them. This way everyone is happy.

• Make them into kings, which ultimately creates more happiness for everyone involved.

Which of the following best exemplifies a dilemma?

• I cannot decide whether to eat pizza or Panda Express.

• I cannot decide whether if to do my homework or not do homework.

• I cannot decide whether if I should be nice to others or not.

• I cannot decide whether to save my mom or sister who are both drowning in the same lake at the same time.

When it comes to doing the "right" thing, our discussions have made it clear that.....

• there is always a clear cut "right" decision.

• there is never a right decision.

• the right decision may be different for everyone, depending on the person, circumstances, and other contingent factors.

• it is extremely easy to do the right thing always.