Question 1

The legality and morality of torture depend greatly on the definition of the term.

Accepted Answer

The legality and morality of torture are highly contingent upon how "torture" is defined, as different legal systems and moral frameworks may have varying interpretations and thresholds for what constitutes torture.

Question 2

The philosopher Epicurus was the godfather of John Stuart Mill.

Accepted Answer

Epicurus was an ancient Greek philosopher who lived from 341-270 BCE, while John Stuart Mill was a British philosopher born in 1806. They lived in different times and places, making it impossible for Epicurus to be the godfather of John Stuart Mill.

Question 3

John Stuart Mill claims that something is pleasurable if it is desired.

Accepted Answer

John Stuart Mill, in his utilitarian philosophy, argues that the desirability of something is indeed a testament to its pleasurable nature, as people desire what they find pleasurable.

Question 4

John Stuart Mill reached a crisis when he realized that making everyone else happy does not necessarily make oneself happy.

Accepted Answer

John Stuart Mill experienced a mental crisis during his youth, partly due to his realization that achieving the happiness of others, a principle central to the utilitarian philosophy he was raised on, did not guarantee his own happiness. This led him to reevaluate his beliefs and incorporate elements of Romanticism and individuality into his utilitarian framework.

Question 5

The harm principle states that adult persons should not be interfered with, unless they are doing harm to others or themselves.

Accepted Answer

The harm principle, as articulated by John Stuart Mill, states that the actions of individuals should only be limited to prevent harm to others, not to themselves.

Question 6

The naturalistic fallacy attempts to step from "is" to "ought," that is, it proceeds from what people actually do to a rule that states what people ought to do.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The naturalistic fallacy attempts to step from...

Question 7

Both John Stuart Mill and Harriet Taylor believed that women have a right to employment regardless of their marital status.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Both John Stuart Mill and Harriet Taylor...

Question 8

John Stuart Mill is today recognized as the first influential male speaker for political equality between men and women in modern Western history.

Accepted Answer

John Stuart Mill, a 19th-century philosopher and political economist, was indeed a pioneering male advocate for gender equality. He argued for women's rights and political equality in his work "The Subjection of Women" (1869), making him one of the first influential male figures in Western history to publicly champion the cause of equal rights for women.

Question 9

John Stuart Mill believed that whole populations could not be trusted to govern themselves because they were not sufficiently mature.

Accepted Answer

The answer of John Stuart Mill believed that whole populations...

Question 10

Act and rule utilitarianism both say that when you do something you should maximize happiness and minimize unhappiness for all those affected.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Act and rule utilitarianism both say that...

Question 11

In the Primary Readings section, Jeremy Bentham declares the interest of the community to be of less importance than the interest of the individual.

Accepted Answer

Jeremy Bentham, a founder of utilitarianism, argued that the interest of the community is a sum of the interests of its members, thus placing the community's interest as paramount, not less important than that of the individual.

Question 12

In the Primary Readings section, John Stuart Mill claims that happiness is the same as contentment.

Accepted Answer

John Stuart Mill distinguishes between happiness and mere contentment, arguing that happiness involves higher pleasures that engage the intellect and moral sentiments, not just satisfaction or contentment from fulfilling basic desires.

Question 13

Utilitarians are hard universalists in the sense that they believe there is a single universal moral code, which is the only one possible, and everyone ought to realize it.

Accepted Answer

Utilitarians, as a branch of consequentialist ethics, hold that the rightness or wrongness of actions depends on their outcomes, aiming for the greatest happiness for the greatest number. This principle acts as a universal moral code, suggesting that there is one best outcome in moral situations, which everyone should strive to realize.

Question 14

The film Outbreak (Warner Brothers, 1995) is a medical thriller that pits concern for the safety of the many against the rights of the few.

Accepted Answer

Outbreak is a medical thriller that explores the ethical and moral dilemmas faced by health professionals and government officials when dealing with a deadly virus outbreak, highlighting the tension between public safety and individual rights.

Question 15

Peter Singer argues that human "dignity" is a crucial concept in utilitarian decisions.

Accepted Answer

Peter Singer, a utilitarian philosopher, often emphasizes the consequences of actions and their utility rather than abstract concepts like "dignity" in ethical decision-making.

Question 16

In The Blacksmith and the Baker, an innocent baker is being executed for the crime of the blacksmith.

Accepted Answer

The blacksmith is the one who committed the crime, not the baker.

Question 17

In The Brothers Karamazov, Alyosha would not consent to the torture of a small creature for the sake of human happiness.

Accepted Answer

Alyosha Karamazov, a character in Dostoevsky's "The Brothers Karamazov," is depicted as compassionate and morally upright, opposing the idea of causing suffering to innocent beings for the sake of human happiness.

Question 18

In "The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas," the happiness of the community is based on a nonhuman animal being tortured.

Accepted Answer

In "The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas" by Ursula K. Le Guin, the happiness of the community is based on the suffering of a single human child, not a nonhuman animal.

Question 19

In the film Extreme Measures, the famous Dr. Myrick argues that even though homeless people may not be pillars of society they still have rights, and nobody should be used for medical experiments against their will even though it may be for the common good.

Accepted Answer

In the film Extreme Measures, Dr. Myrick, played by Gene Hackman, actually conducts illegal medical experiments on homeless people, justifying his actions with the potential benefits for the common good, thus contradicting the statement provided.

Quiz 5: Using Your Reason, Part 1: Utilitarianism