Mills :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In this paper I shall explore the reasons behind why utility should be considered the â€Å"ultimate appeal on ethical questions,† as stated by Mill, and in ethical situations. In life, we should look to attain the greatest overall quality of life, which is done through obtaining happiness within ourselves. However, at the same time it is important to consider the pleasure of others as they, theoretically, would be doing the same for us. If people started to try and take advantage of others living this way and decided to become ‘free-riders,’ eventually the utilitarian system would break down and we would be left with a selfish world. This is why its maintenance is so important.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Before continuing, I should give a definition of what I am referring to when speaking of utilitarianism. Taking the term literally, maximum utility results when the following process is undertaken: 1) look at the state of the world after each action made. Look in particular at the level of happiness experienced by people in each of their situations. 2) Add up, somehow, those levels of happiness experienced in each case. 3) And lastly, compare the results. The one that leads to the most amount of total happiness is the â€Å"right† one.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When discussing utility in his book titled Utilitarianism written in 1863, Mill states: â€Å"Right and wrong, as well as truth and falsehood, are questions of observation and experience†¦morality must be deduced from principles...there ought to be some one fundamental principle or law, at the root of all morality, or if there be several, there should be a determinate order of precedence among them; and the one principle, or the rule for deciding between the various principles when they conflict, ought to be self-evident.† I find much importance in this statement because it seems so true. What we determine to be right or wrong comes from how we were brought up. Mill also states, â€Å"moral feelings are not innate, but acquired.† For example, I was raised in a family that believed that to go to church as many Sundays as possible was very important. However, to another person this could be less crucial if their parents raised them as, say, atheists. It seems like the beliefs of those who had the most impact on us as we grew up are the ones imbedded in us. Though this is fine for many, problems may arise when dealing in a situation where two people are dealing with one another in an ethical situation and the two individuals were raised in families of totally separated beliefs.

A day in Detroit Michigan

A day in Detroit Michigan It is a cold, cloudy, overcast morning in Detroit, Michigan. It is very remote here and there have only been a few people I have seen walking the streets. I have seen only about four people so far as I am walking downtown, and those were African Americans. I have not seen any white people though at this time. I feel as If I am In another country. Most of the city at this time Is very remote and there are not a lot of businesses that are still in business. I feel cold here and as I am walking the energy that I am feeling is very shut off and bare.I feel as If I am In a place where no one ants to be, and I am a little scared that I am walking these streets with Just my brother and l. Everyone that we have passed by have looked at us strangely probably wondering why we are walking these streets. It Is 10:00 am In October here In Michigan. Dead leafs surround the sidewalks and streets as the colored leafs start changing. This Is my favorite time of year In Michi gan. The sky is grey and the air is chilly so we are dressed pretty warm.The sun is trying to come through the clouds but so far it is still very cloudy and gloomy. No one is around and I am looking at the buildings in the city and how a lot of of Hess buildings are so different. There are a lot of abandoned buildings around and it looks as if non one wants to come and take care of them anymore. This is when that cold feeling really started kicking in as I'm realizing that this city is so dead and seems like no one wants to keep this city alive anymore. The sun is finally starting to peak through the clouds now.It is now 2:30 in the afternoon here in Detroit. I have seen more people at this time walking around. When the sun started coming out, I felt that it touched the city in a way and made everything have more hope that surrounded me as I walked up and down these trees. The city had more of a positive feeling at this time, and the sky was turning but and I even saw more people la ughing and carrying on conversation through each other. The birds were chirping in the trees and the environment seemed more alive.The only down fall that I came to realize was when the sun came out, the streets started smelling and the weather started getting humid and muggy. A lot of people that â€Å"lived† in the city were homeless. That means the outside is their bathroom as well. As I started walking further away from downtown, I noticed some houses along the way. I was in a bad neighborhood but no one seemed to be outside so I kept my head down and continued on my way. The houses were old and not well kept that had trash along the side of them and metal bars on the windows.Every other house on the block was abandoned. I felt sad and blessed at the same time. Sad because I felt so bad for the people that were living their life this way and blessed that I was able to come from such an amazing home and a fortunate family. Night was falling and I cam back to observe the ni ght life In the city. I stayed In my car and drove around the city because I felt that at this time of day It was unsafe or me to be walking around. A lot of gang actively happens at this time and I would of been scared.There was a lot of traffic and I looked and followed it to see what was awesome because events stuck as a Detroit Red Wings game still took place in the city. It was a nice surprise seeing all these people wearing red wings Jerseys smiling with excitement about the game. I drove home with fulfillment that I got to experience a day in Detroit Michigan. Although at first it was a cold, gloomy, grey day, it turned out to be a good day. Being able to experience a day in Detroit reminded me to always be grateful for everything that I have.I think this experience will forever stay with me whenever I feel as though I am having a bad day. I will always look back and remember that it could always be worse. I think everyone should spend a day in a less fortunate area to keep i n mind how much you really do have and to not worry about the little things that life throws your way. To always remember that everyone you come in contact with is fighting a battle Just like you and to never treat those around you less than because we are all humans. Thank you for this humbling experience Detroit.

Tim OBriens The Things They Carried Essay - 1328 Words

When Americans are involved, there is no lack on interpretations of war; stating their opinions about politics or military is not something they are afraid of doing. Whichever way a person wants to perceive the war is entirely up to them, but the viewpoints of the soldiers’ who are fighting in said war, show perspectives that are often entirely opposite of the views of those Americans. Tim O’Brien’s The Thing They Carried offers insight on the Vietnam War as told by soldiers during that time. O’Brien blurs distinction of what the truth is and what is false when it involves the storytelling of war and how everyone else perceives it; the connection of the ‘normal’ Americans, or the average American opinion on war, versus the soldiers seems†¦show more content†¦There are people who believe war must happen to make a great change to better a country. People believe that the soldiers are brave and that they are doing heroic acts, the war wi ll save them from the unrest within their own country, and that additional territory will be granted to them. War seems to be the answer to a lot of peoples’ questions. It plays an important role in America’s government and in their political standpoint. However, the soldiers who take part in the war, have their own opinions and thoughts of what war really means. The onlookers and the ones involved have different perceptions of what war stands for. Tim O’Brien’s The Things They Carried included gruesome images and stories that bring real-life examples of how soldiers encounter the war, which disrupts and challenges the common assumptions that people may have of the war. The fact that the Americans who think war is a good thing cannot listen to a true war story seems counterproductive in that the opposite of what they believe is the reality for these soldiers. It suggests that people do not really want to hear a true war story because they simply cannot handle the truth. No one wants to hear a true war story because it could be too much for them to bare, or not to bare, since they are not the ones constantly in battle. No one wants to listen to the truth being told because they are too busyShow MoreRelatedTim OBriens The Things They Carried Essay1350 Words   |  6 Pagesof doing. Whichever way a person wants to perceive the war is entirely up to them, but the viewpoints of the soldiers’ who are fighting in said war, show perspectives that are often entirely opposite of the views of those Americans. Tim O’Brien’s The Thing They Carried offers insight on the Vietnam War as told by soldiers during that time. O’Brien blurs distinction of what the truth is and what is false when it involves the storytelling of war and how everyone else perceives it; the connection ofRead More What is Love? Tim OBriens The Things They Carried Essay2282 Words   |  10 Pagesstill people that can confuse it because of objects or even words. An example of this confusion can be shown in the novel â€Å"The Things They Carried†, by Tim O’ Brien. Jimmy Cross is fond of Martha and shows strong emotions for her. Jimmy Cross shows his emotions towards Martha right at the beginning of the novel by sharing to us the following: First Lieutenant Jimmy Cross carried letters from a girl named Martha, a Junior at Mount Sebastian College in New Jersey. They were not love letters, but Lieutenant