Friday, February 3, 2017

Utilitarianism: Crash Course Philosophy #36

5 comments:

  1. I really enjoyed this video because it introduced me to a new and interesting way of thinking( Utilitrianism). The argument of Kantianism vs. Utilitarianism is also intriguing. Other thinking points that I liked was individual happiness vs. Overall happiness, the equal importance of each individual and looking at each situation as third, disinterested person to achieve utilitarianism. The development of Utlitarianism from act utilitarianism to rule utilitarianism is also interesting.

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  2. I truly enjoyed this video since it raised many interesting facts which propelled me to think about the consequences of our actions rather than the intentions behind it. Viewing the situation as a spectator would prove to be more efficient for a greater number of people since the decision would not be bias. Instead this would lead to greater happiness and invoke in the people a feeling to Act Utilitarianism and abide by all its rules in any given situation.

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  3. This video allows me to understand a very important conceptual framework of confirmation bias, the tendency to interpret new evidence as confirmation of one's existing beliefs or theories.
    Perhaps looking at situations from a third perspective is essential to create the concrete between what one intends to do, and the consequences that follow more importantly.
    To seek "greater happiness", one must look at different perspectives, and different angles towards the same topic or situation. According to me, the Act of Utiltarianism is essential in our everyday lives, and maybe using language and emotion as a way of knowing, this act can be derived in any respective area of knowledge.
    Always a pleasure to view updated videos on the blog, thank you for this unique post.

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  4. Utilitarianism coincides greatly with forms of consequentialism as they both share the core idea of the distinction between actions that are morally right and actions that are morally wrong depends on their effect. Drawing parallels and similarities between Kantianism and Utilitarianism is certainly interesting. The use of certain examples or situations, such as the Barnard Williams thought experience certainly helps us in understanding the deeper roots of utilitarianism. More specifically, understanding the difference between 'Act Utilitarianism' and 'Rule Utilitarianism' was possible by keeping this thought experience in mind. William's critique of utilitarianism gives us an insight on the other side of the theory. Overall, this video broadened my view of confirmation bias and certainly rose a plethora of knowledge questions that drove me to research deeply on Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill.
    Researching about theories like these make the journey of TOK interesting as they make me ponder on multiple knowledge questions and lead me down a path where I learn how to think like a true TOK student.

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  5. I greatly appreciate this video as it outlines the features of utilitarianism in a colloquial manner, making it more relevant and relatable. Utilitarianism is an ethical theory that states that the best action is the one that maximizes utility. I found the notion of this doctrine intriguing but I was at first apprehensive to readily accept it, as it assumes that we are to know the outcomes or consequences of our actions, the sole basis upon which consequentialism as an idea exists. We also discussed the Utilitarians Jeremy Bentham and John Stewart Mill who, like Epicurus, were fundamentally "hedonists about value." They also held that we ought to maximize utility to bring about ‘the greatest amount of good for the greatest number’. I really enjoyed our discussion in class, and I was glad that we looked at utilitarianism from a broad perspective, taking into account various criticisms against it, like the futility of happiness being a rational aim of human life, as it is unattainable in its unquantifiable form.

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