最新Ethics.pptVIP

Act Utilitarianism Utilitarianism Morality of an action has nothing to do with intent Focuses on the consequences A consequentialist theory Act utilitarianism Add up change in happiness of all affected beings Sum 0, action is good Sum 0, action is bad Source: Slides for Chapter 2 of Ethics for the Information Age by Michael J. Quinn. Copyright ? 2005 Pearson Addison-Wesley. All rights reserved. * Bentham: Weighing Pleasure/Pain Intensity Duration Certainty Propinquity (proximity) Fecundity Purity Extent Source: Slides for Chapter 2 of Ethics for the Information Age by Michael J. Quinn. Copyright ? 2005 Pearson Addison-Wesley. All rights reserved. * Highway Routing Scenario State may replace a curvy stretch of highway New highway segment 1 mile shorter 150 houses would have to be removed Some wildlife habitat would be destroyed Source: Slides for Chapter 2 of Ethics for the Information Age by Michael J. Quinn. Copyright ? 2005 Pearson Addison-Wesley. All rights reserved. * Evaluation Costs $20 million to compensate homeowners $10 million to construct new highway Lost wildlife habitat worth $1 million Benefits $39 million savings in automobile driving costs Conclusion Benefits exceed costs Building highway a good action Source: Adapted from Slides for Chapter 2 of Ethics for the Information Age by Michael J. Quinn. Copyright ? 2005 Pearson Addison-Wesley. All rights reserved. Subtlety: not just to whom but when costs (benefits) accrue * Act utilitarian evaluation of spam Spam sent to 100 million people 1 in 10,000 buy product 90% of people who buy product are happy with it, other 10% feel ripped off People who don’t buy product waste time and money, get annoyed, etc. - unhappy Spammer makes lots of money and is VERY happy 9001 happy people, 99,990,000 unhappy people Conclusion: 99.991% of people are unhappy, so spam is wrong * Case for Act Utilitarianism Focuses on happiness Down-to-earth (practical) Comprehensive Workable ethical theory Source: Slides for Chapter 2