Mill & Nietzsche

What is the principle of utility?

• The greatest pleasure for the greatest number.

• Only act if you can will that your plan of action be a universal law.

• Do unto other as you would have them do unto you.

• Eat more chicken!

Why would people think that utilitarians are like Vulcans?

• They will act with cold rationality sacrificing themselves for the greater good if that is what is called for.

• The have pointy ears.

• They are very emotional.

• They are vegetarians.

What is a trolley problem?

• When you are late for work because you missed the train.

• When some ties you to a train track and the trolley is headed your way.

• A thought experiement to test your value system. You have choose between having a trolley hit one group or another.

• A thought experiement where you have to decide which trolley to board and take you to your destination.

What is rule utilitarianism?

• When rules get in the way of doing the best thing.

• When you adopt a set of rules that result generally in the greatest good for the greatest number even if individual acts may not.

• When each act must contribute positively to general happiness.

• When you have to get on a trolley to get to work.

What would utilitarians say about global hunger?

• We should ignore the suffering of those who are distant from us and concetrate on those who are suffering our community.

• It's not my problem!

• That people in developed countries should contribute to food aid to help those in less developed countries.

• When populations grow, resources are scarce. We should let people die of starvation because if we save them there will not be enough resources for everyone.

What is the ascetic ideal according to Nietzsche?

• Suffering is fun so we should make sure that we have more of it.

• Since we are sinners, we must sacrifice our desires to come close to God.

• Being a good person involves self-sacrifice.

• If we extinguish our desires, we will not suffer from disappointment.

What is the slave revolt in morality according to Nietzsche?

• When tyrants do what they want because they are strong.

• When slaves revolt and refuse to serve on plantations.

• When people dispute moral controversies like euthenasia.

• When weak people trick strong people into thinking that there is an objective morality because they cannot do what they want.

What is nihilistic relativism?

• The affirmation of objective morality.

• The idea that human nature has a purpose and an end that we all aim at.

• The attempt to find a secular basis for traditional morality.

• The denial of objective morality and the believe that one should craft a beautiful life outside the bounds of traditional morality.

What is original morality according to Nietzsche?

• An eye for an eye.

• The good are the masters who do what they want. The bad are the weak who submit to the strong.

• The good are those who obey the rules and don't hurt anyone. The bad are those who don't follow the moral law and hurt people.

• The meek will inherit the earth.