Utilitarianism

Class Biz

1. Check-in on who is doing their Be of Service this week?
2. Justice Monologue Make-ups!  Let's do them today
3. Film day on Wednesday-- you don't want to miss it, but if you are absent, the link will be on my DP for you to watch on your own time. 
   
4. Homework for this week-- let's go over it! 

• Tuesday 10/1: Ch. 3 [Entire chapter] (17 pages total)
• Friday, 10/4 Ch. 6 [pages 140-142, 151-159] (12 pages total)
• Monday, 10/​7: Ch. 8 (Aristotle)
• HONORS ONLY: Tuesday 10/8 Ch. 5 [pages 103-124] (21 pages total)
  Final Exam: 10/10

Starter: One Philosophy, Two Different Moral Judgements

Step 1:  Watch the CNN report on the Supreme Court case, Morse v. Frederick (2002) aka “Bong Hits For Jesus”
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Step 2: Answer the two following questions in order to determine the morally correct court ruling on this case from John Stuart Mill’s utilitarian perspective AND Jeremy Bentham’s utilitarian perspective?

1. Jeremy Bentham would support the Court’s ruling that the First Amendment does not protect the individual’s right to freedom of speech because we need to protect the greater good.  How does the Court’s ruling protect the greater good?
2. J.S. Mills would say the Court’s ruling was morally wrong, because protecting individual liberty actually does benefit the greater good in the long run.  How does protecting FREE SPEECH benefit the greater good in the long run?
3. The court ruled in favor of the school on this issue, thus using Bentham’s line of reasoning.  How does this change the way you understand our protections under the First Amendment especially in the context of schools?

Discuss the starter

​Discussion of the "life boat scenario" from the beginning of Ch. 2
Remember the "lifeboat" scenario from last night's reading? Yeah, sure you do. It's the one about the English sailors adrift at sea, at the brink of starvation?  

• Why, according to a strict Utilitarian would killing Parker, the poor cabin boy, be morally justified?

• ​What are two OBJECTIONS to killing Parker? One uses Utilitarian reasoning, the other does not (p. 33)
• What is the MAIN idea of Utilitarianism?  
• What does Bentham mean when he says, “We are all governed by the feelings of pain and pleasure.  They are our ‘sovereign masters’. They govern us in everything we do and also determine what we ought to do” (34).  How does this apply to the concept of utilitarianism

Powerpoint Lecture time!  

• Topics: Utilitarianism and Intro to Libertarianism-- to help you have some context for Ch. 3!! 

​Time to work on the study group discussion questions for Ch. 2

• Work TOGETHER on the questions for today
• We'll check-in at the end of class to make sure y'all are on same page about the differences between Bentham and Mill's philosophies.  See pages 50-51 on Mill!

Last 10 minutes: Class Closing Announcements and Exit Ticket

1. Read Ch 3 by Thursday and Ch. 6 by Friday.
2. College Essays! Grades are final for "Apply your knowledge" categories BUT you could refine and reflect and document in "Growth" for your portfolio grade.  SAVE these drafts and my feedback for Thursday's portfolio update time.
   

Exit Ticket

• Read through my feedback and let me know: a) was my feedback clear and helpful?  b) what questions do you have, if any?  c) do you want to conference with me again before your applications are due? (if so, email me to set up a conference time and LET ME KNOW when your application deadlines are)
  
• What are the differences and similarities between Mill and Bentham's philosophies? 
• What else did you learn today?
•  What connections are you making with Utilitarianism and the real world or in your own life?