DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

UTILITARIANISM
Q.1- Apply act utilitarianism and rule utilitarianism in resolving the
following moral problems. Do the two versions of utilitarianism lead to
the same or different answers to the problems?

A. George had a bad reaction to the illegal drug he accepted from friends
at a party. He calls in the sick the day after, and when he returns to
work the following day he looks ill. His supervisor ask him why he is not
feeling well. Is it morally permissible for George to lie by telling his
supervisor that he had a bad reaction to some medicine his doctor
prescribed for him?

Ans. In one way it is permissible and in the other it is not. In act

utilitarianism he is permissible because if he doesn’t lie then there are
chances his supervisor will ask him to leave the job. In rule
utilitarianism it is not permissible because according to rules it is
unlawful to lie whatever the reaction of his supervisor will.

B. Jillian was aware of a recent company memo reminding employees

that office supplies are to use only at work. Yet she knew that most of
the other engineers in her division thought nothing about occasionally
taking home notepads, pens, computer disks and other office
‘incidentals’. Her eight-year old daughter had asked for a company-
inscribed ledger like the one she saw her carrying. The ledger costs less
than $20 and jillian recalls that she has probably used that much from
her personal stationary supplies during the past year for work purposes.
Is it all right for her daughter without asking her supervisor for
permission?

Ans. According to act utilitarianism it is not allowed because it will be in

loss of company. According to rule utilitarianism, it is allowed because
she has used her own ledger in past year for company work. So, she is
allowed now to take a ledger.
Q.2- Can utilitarianism provide moral justification for engineers who
work for tobacco companies for example in designing cigarette making
machinery? In your answer take account of the following facts:- Cigarette
kills more than 400000 Americans each year, which is more than the
combined deaths caused by alcohol and drug abuse, car accidents,
homicide and suicide and AIDS. Cigarette companies do much good by
providing jobs (Philips Morris employs more than 150000 persons
worldwide), and through taxes (Over $4 billions paid by Philips morris in
a typical year), and through philanthropy. Most new users of cigarettes
are teenagers in USA. There is disagreement in just how addictive
cigarettes are, but adults have some choices in chooing whether to
continue using cigarettes and they may choose to continue using for
reasons beyond the addictive potential of nicotine.

Ans. No, utilitarianism doesn’t provide engineers to modify this, because

if we overview this problem that 400000 people die eery year and
teenagers are affected badly now. So, taxes and employee ratings doesn’t
fulfill the answer to modify their point of view.

Q.3- Some cost benefit analysis place a price tag on the loss of life. Is
doing so inherently offensive, or can it be a reasonable procedure for
limited purposes? In the pinto case, even if ford was justified in making
the cost benefit analysis, were there additional moral considerations that
they should have used in deciding whether to improve the safety of the
car?

Ans. Placing a price tag on loss of life is not inherently offensive. No,it is
not reasonable because if there is a rich man in a society & according to
pinto case if he has $200000 he can buy any body. It is ethically wrong.

Yes, there should be more moral considerations that if a life loses that
not only one life is lessened , it may effect a family, a company, a society,
even a country etc.
Q.4- Make a list of a things that are intrinsically good. Do you believe
that every intelligent person would agree with your list? How much of
your list is either culture bound or applicable only to individuals who
share your interests? Is there any reason why engineers should adopt a
particular theory of good as either pleasure, a list of desirable ativities
and relationships, happiness, satisfaction, of rational goods, or
preference satisfaction?

1. Inspired by added responsibility.

2. Being recognized as a valuable company resource.

3. Feeling of accomplishment.

4. Enjoyment and satisfaction in doing an activity or task.

5. Desire to be remembered as a leader or innovator.

6. Pursuit of knowledge.

7. Curiosity about the topic.

8. Enjoyment of effortful thinking.

9. Mastery of the topic.

10. Achievement of learning goals.

11. Pleasurable physical feelings.

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12. Fun and enjoyment of the sport.

13. Feeling of self-worth.

14. Achieving self-mastery.

15. Beating one’s personal record.

16. Sense of purpose.

17. Pride in one’s role.

18. Ability to make one's own decisions and contribute ideas.

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19. Working with like-minded people.

20. Achieving competency.

21. Desire to be healthier in order to achieve other goals.

22. Desire to live longer to be with family.

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23. Craving for the feeling of lightness.

24. Fulfill personal commitments or promises.

No, every intelligent person will not agree with my list.

20% of my list is either culture bound or applicable only to individual

who share your interests.

Engineers should adopt a particular theory of intrinsic good because

engineers have to perform safety problems and they have to reduce safety
risk. They have to do maximum good for people.
 RIGHTS ETHICS AND DUTY EHTICS

Q.1- In the pinto case did ford motor company have the duty to inform
the of the hazards with its gas tank, and did the public have rights to be
so informed? If so, how might such information have been made
available to the public?

Ans. Yes, it was the duty of ford motor company & it was a right of public
to be informed of the hazards with its gas tank.

This information should be made available in such a way that ‘It is to be

informed everyone that it is very safe to have a gas tank cover with your
car when you are buying it from company thanks’

Q.2- Revisit the Citicorp tower case in chapter 1. Identify the rights of the
various stakeholders involved the case. How might a right ethicist
proceed in resolving what should have been done?

Ans. The rights of various stakeholders are following:-

They have right to-

(1) Returned their money if tower falls in their contract.

(2) Case on tower ownership in case of not being interested.
(3) Have cancel their contract.

Q.3- Suppose that you or your family owns, free and clear a piece of
land. Does a right to property permit you, morally speaking, to do
anything you please with it, and are laws that says immoral? Some
philosophers argue that what it mean to say it is your property is largely
a matter of what the law says you can and can’t do with it. What would
locke say, and do you agree with him?In your Response which will clarify
your conception of what property is, consider right-of-way laws that
allows the government to purchase your land at market value in order to
construct a road or railway path, environmental laws forbidden pollution
of land, limitations on the height of the buildings on the land etc.
 Ans. Right to property permits us only to do what is lawful. Otherwise it
will immoral.

No, locke is 65% wrong and 35% right because locke says that
government shouldn’t take taxes, it shouldn’t own road without
permission of owner, environmental pollution laws should or shouldn’t
be obeyed, limitation on the height of the land shouldn’t be restricted etc.

Q.4- Write down a list of duties that you believe all reasonable persons
should recognize as absolute, that is, as having no justified exceptions. Is
the list very long? Explain why your list is short or long and defend your
view against possible criticism.

Ans.

 Support and defend the Constitution.

 Stay informed of the issues affecting your community.
 Participate in the democratic process.
 Respect and obey federal, state, and local laws.
 Respect the rights, beliefs, and opinions of others.
 Participate in your local community.
 You are responsible for your fellow human beings’ physical safety.
 You are responsible for making sure all human beings are treated
equally.
 You are responsible to your home planet.
 You are responsible for being proud of your super powers.

This list is long because we have to perform all these duties and they are
rights of others.