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Contemporary Ethics

1. The document is a learning packet from the Philosophy Department of Ateneo de Zamboanga University that discusses utilitarian ethics and justice. 2. It provides concept notes and readings on utilitarianism and justice, then asks students to discuss which they apply more in everyday life based on videos. Student responses show most rely on utilitarianism when making decisions. 3. The document summarizes that individuals apply utilitarianism daily by making choices that bring happiness to others, though majorities benefit more. Utilitarianism is practical and says an action is right if it results in the greatest happiness for the most people.

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ALIZA BAKIL
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82 views3 pages

Contemporary Ethics

1. The document is a learning packet from the Philosophy Department of Ateneo de Zamboanga University that discusses utilitarian ethics and justice. 2. It provides concept notes and readings on utilitarianism and justice, then asks students to discuss which they apply more in everyday life based on videos. Student responses show most rely on utilitarianism when making decisions. 3. The document summarizes that individuals apply utilitarianism daily by making choices that bring happiness to others, though majorities benefit more. Utilitarianism is practical and says an action is right if it results in the greatest happiness for the most people.

Uploaded by

ALIZA BAKIL
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Ateneo de Zamboanga University

School of Liberal Arts

Philosophy Department
Learning Packet #3
UNDSELF – Understanding the Self
2nd Session, SY 2021 – 2022

Learning Packet Activity Sheet No: 7 Date: November 15 – 19, 2021


Topic: Contemporary Ethics Week: 7 Session/s: 1
Learning Intent
At the end of week 7, the students can:
1. Discuss the utilitarian ethics and the ethical principle of justice
2. Compare and contrast the two utilitarian models and different categories of justice
3. Demonstrate a deeper awareness of contemporary moral issues
I. Concept Notes
Many of the human find their decision to just when they prioritize the “majority”. But few will often suggest
that being just should also be a priority. Let us examine Utilitarianism and sense of Justice more closely.

Read: Week 7 Reading Articles:


https://drive.google.com/file/d/1734k85luH4OOAaSQeZRVNmPaMeCnQML_/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YwdZiJpOO0XuWIhqKUf9wsCE81Yp_hCl/view?usp=sharing

II. Checking for Understanding

Instructions:

Watch the videos:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FrZl22_79Q
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxBVMI2UJS0
On the boxes provided in the lesson packet, write what you and your classmate thoughts on the question:
Which among Utilitarianism and Justice you usually use in your everyday life? Why?

What I thought:
Utilitarianism is a philosophical view or theory about how should we analyze a lot of things that involve
choices that we face. For instance, When we are deciding what to do for ourselves alone, we consider only
our own utility. Like, if I were to choose a dress for myself, the utilitarian view is that I should choose the
flavor that will give me the most pleasure. The Utilitarianism, that I usually used in my everyday life, according
to research, the act utilitarianism is a utilitarian theory of ethics that states that an individual’s act is morally
right if and only if it produces the best possible results in that specific situation. For instance in my life,
sometimes I provide food for people who are in need and it may be an act utilitarian action. Helping others is
a right decision and it can benefit others. In addition, I also apply justice in my actions like treating and helping
others who are in needs. Fairly treating to others is a must and we need to apply it in our actions every single
day.
_____________________________________________________________________________
What (Farhana’s name) thought:
In my perspective, utilitarianism is what I usually use or practice in my everyday life because I seem to dedicate
myself in making others happy regardless of what I feel in a sense that what makes them happy also pleasures
me or brings happiness. I always make a decision considering others especially their opinions. It does not
really violate my right as a person as it is my decision to act this way, however pressure is an additional factor
as to why people like me decide things, which favors the majority but I don’t mind as it also fulfills me at some
point. On the other hand, I also apply justice through some of my simple actions such as treating everyone
equally and being fair no matter what the person is because I believe we deserve a chance to be part of the
society and be given with equal opportunities despite of the differences in religion, personality, and gender.

What (Cleensea’s name) thought:


Since I frequently have to weigh the interests of groups larger than just me, such as friends, families, and
neighbors, I lean toward utilitarianism in my daily decisions. A group's well-being was determined by totaling
up the gains and losses that each member would experience if a particular policy or action was implemented.
This is because utilitarianism defined right and wrong as outcomes. As a collective, it is merely the sum of
everyone's individual goals. Whenever I go out to get snacks for my family, I always ask them what they'd like
and then provide them with options like pizza or doughnuts, for example. I'm a utilitarian, so I only buy food
that everyone in the family enjoys. For the after snacks, six of us in the house would prefer pizza, while the
other two would prefer doughnuts. If everyone like pizza as much as I do, then that's what I'll serve as a snack.
Bentham famously used the expression "the greatest happiness for the greatest number" to describe this
outcome. In this instance, I should go for pizza, even if the other two people choose donuts to pizza. The
utilitarian method demands that we take into account the interests of all parties. You may not give more
weight to some people's interests than others, even your own. In the same way, when a government is making
a decision, it should take into account the well-being of all people.

What we will share:


We have observed that we apply utilitarianism in our day-to-day lives more than the justice itself. Individuals
simply contribute to the decisions that one-person make in which the actions and outcomes brings happiness,
satisfactions and pleasure to one another, although the majorities mostly benefit from it rather than the
decision maker. We have realized that utilitarian people depend on others when making an acti on since what
they do corresponds to the welfare or sake of the receiver or the person involve. Utilitarianism brings
practicality at some point. In addition that based on our understanding, utilitarianism would say that an action
is right if it results in the happiness of the greatest number of an individual in a society or a group.
III. Analysis
Instructions:
Answer the questions below during our synchronous session.
1. What is Utilitarianism?
Utilitarianism is a philosophical view or theory about how should we analyze a lot of things that
involve choices that we face. For instance, when we are deciding what to do for ourselves
alone, we consider only our own utility. Utilitarianism would say that an action is right if it
results in the happiness of the greatest number of people in a society or a group. Additional
information, utilitarianism is what we usually use or practice in our daily life because it seems
to dedicate ourselves, for instance, making others happy by treating them right and equally.
Doing what is right for the people that surrounds us and for the society.
2. What does Justice prioritize?
Justice means giving each person what he or she deserves. Justice has three principles namely,
equality, fairness, and access. In dictionary, Equality is defined as ‘the state of being equal,
especially in status, rights, or opportunities.’ When reflected in the law, this means that
everyone who comes before the courts is treated the same regardless of what sex, gender,
religion or culture. Equality is distinct from fairness. Fairness is defined in the dictionary as
‘impartial and just treatment or behavior without favoritism or discrimination.’ When reflected
in the law, this means that one individual is not allowed an unequal advantage over the other
individual. We all need to be treated fairly in this world. Lastly, Access means that each one of
us in the legal system is able to use the resources, procedures and organization available
throughout the legal system. When reflected in the laws, this means that we are freely known
and an individual can access the laws by ourselves.
IV. Integration
Go to the link given and do the task given:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ETfW1RtrBn-WVzlYVVOR5cDkkcVJxMi2/view?usp=sharing

In our synchronous class meeting, I want to be clarified about….


_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

IV. Independent Practice


Submit a reflection paper on a given prompt following the prescribed format.

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