Philosophy8

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Are we consequentialists in our everyday activities?

In the following weeks you will begin reading selections from ethical and moral philosophy. To start this process the first selections will concern consequentialism. Consequentialist ethical theories are those theories that evaluate actions based on their consequences. How these ethical perspectives function and what they value as fundamental moral principles vary. The prevalent version of consequentialism is utilitarianism as it was first formulated by Jeremy Bentham, and then J. S. Mill in the latter half of the 19th century. The brand of utilitarianism of encountered today originates from Mill’s formulation. Consequentialism and utilitarianism are often used synonymously, but it should be noted that the latter picks out a specific line of reasoning in moral philosophy.

With regards to what Mill has explained in the selection from his work Utilitarianism, consider the question of whether or not people are utilitarians in this sense of term. Not so much that they want to increase pleasure (whether only for themselves or others), but rather do persons act in such a manner that promotes utility (or, efficiency and expediency) for the largest possible amount of people? For instance, consider the firefighter who has a choice to save one child or to save three children. The firefighter does not know any of the children, nor does he know anything about them. But it is reasonable to assume that they would choose to save the three children over the one child. Why? Because that is simply what it would be to fulfill the role of an effective firefighter! However, this is only one instance; overall, do we have reason to believe that happiness for the greatest amount of people over the longest amount of time is in fact the sole criterion of morality as Mill suggests?

Give an exposition of the argument that Mill provides in the assigned selection. This should include his formulation of the Principle of Utility, on which his argument relies. Then, answer the following question: Why should moral actions just result in maximizing happiness?

Relying on this exposition, and your answer to the previous question, explain how people act, in both day to day and extraordinary circumstances, considering only the consequences of actions.

Required Reading: J.S. Mill “Utilitarianism” (Selection)

Recommended Reading: “Mill’s Moral and Political Philosophy” – Section 2.0, 2.3, 2.6, 2.7 & 2.11 < http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/mill-moral-political/ (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. >

– Watch youtube:

  • 1. Dr. Dale Tuggy – Mill the Man, Utilarianism’s Three Core Claims

 

  • 2. Dr. Dale Tuggy – Mill’s Utilitarianism, Clarifications and Objections

 

  • 3. Dr. Dale Tuggy – Mill’s Utilitarianism, Objections and Replies
 
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Which of the following is not a requirement for a good metaphysical theory?

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Question 1 

  1. Which of the following is not a      requirement for a good metaphysical theory?

 

Factual adequacy

 

Acceptance by the majority of   philosophers

 

Logical consistency

 

Explanatory power

3 points

Question 2 

  1. Which of the following statements      are not true according to Hasker.

 

Some philosophers consider religion   to be irrational

 

Religious authority is not a valid   basis for philosophical assertions

 

If religious authority were a valid   basis for philosophical assertions, philosophy no longer would be an   independent discipline.

 

Religious philosophers should abandon   their religious convictions when doing philosophy.

3 points

Question 3 

  1. If a theory is inconsistent that      means everything asserted by the theory is wrong.

True

False

3 points

Question 4 

  1. One rule of thumb in doing      metaphysics is the recognition that there are some beliefs that should      never be challenged or questioned.

True

False

3 points

Question 5 

  1. A good metaphysical theory should      be characterized by explanatory power.

True

False

3 points

Question 6 

  1. Concerning Max (who stole the      hubcaps), Hasker claims that Max is morally responsible for stealing the      hubcaps, but did not have freedom of choice in stealing the hubcaps.

True

False

3 points

Question 7 

  1. According to Hasker, determinism      claims that people never make choices.

True

False

3 points

Question 8 

  1. For compatibilism a choice is      considered free if the:

 

Agent is free to choose otherwise

 

Agent is acting on his desires

 

The choice is not ultimately based on   prior causes

 

There is no proximate cause involved.

3 points

Question 9 

  1. According to Hasker, a      misconception that some have of libertarianism:

 

God cannot be sovereign if man is   free

 

Free will means that man can do   absolutely anything he chooses

 

Free choices are random events

 

It is not compatible with   determinism.

3 points

Question 10 

  1. According to Hasker, divine      foreknowledge means:

 

God determines everything that will   happen in the future.

 

God knows all things before they will   happen

 

God knows all things timelessly

 

God knows all things at the present   time

3 points

Question 11 

  1. Emergentism states that the mind      is produced by the brain and therefore is identical with the brain.

True

False

3 points

Question 12 

  1. Which of the following is not a      common objection to Materialism?

 

Materialism has not been successful   in eliminating mental properties, which leaves unanswered the question of   their origin

 

There is a legitimate question about   whether all human thought can be explained in purely physical terms

 

Materialism is not compatible with   life after death

 

Materialism is not accepted by most   contemporary philosophers.

3 points

Question 13 

  1. On the question of life after      death, John Hick proposes a theory that involves total annihilation of the      entire person, including the soul, at death.

True

False

3 points

Question 14 

  1. Based on his discussion of John      Hick’s examples of resurrection, which of the following statements would      Hasker NOT agree to?

 

It must be a   person’s exact original body that is resurrected

 

If total personal   annihilation and re-creation are true, the person who is resurrected cannot   be identical with the person who died

 

Materialism is   logically incompatible with life after death.

 

Emergentism is   logically incompatible with life after death.

3 points

Question 15 

  1. Which of the following statements      is true about philosophical Materialism?

 

Mental properties do not exist

 

Materialism is motivated by a desire   to have a completely scientific understanding of human nature.

 

Materialism shares the same   weaknesses as Dualism

 

The mind and the body are not   identical, although they interact

3 points

Question 16 

  1. Which view attempts to solve the      mind/body problem by appealing to God’s involvement:

 

Interactionism

 

Occasionalism

 

Behaviorism

 

Epiphenomenalism

3 points

Question 17 

  1. Which of these is an example of an      essential  property?

 

The color of a car

 

A human hand

 

The roots of a tree

 

The leaves of a tree

3 points

Question 18 

  1. Which of the following is NOT a      characteristic of substances:

 

Substances are   particular things

 

Substances are   necessary and unchanging

 

Substances are   fundamental existants

 

Substances have   causal powers

3 points

Question 19 

  1. According to Dr. Baggett, which of      the following best describes libertarian free will:

 

For every choice I make, I could have   chosen otherwise.

 

Free choice is fulfilling what I want   to do.

 

God does not know what we will freely   choose to do.

 

God determines what we will freely   choose to do.

3 points

Question 20 

  1. According to Dr. Baggett, the      reason secularists are drawn to compatibilism is that it is consistent      with naturalism.

True

False

 
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Pathophysiology

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ssignment:

  1. Complete the weekly Discussion questions requirement.
  2. In a 1000-word APA essay – Complete all three of the following SherPath case studies: 1. Edema, 2. Pernicious Anemia, 3. Cardiovascular System – Atherosclerosis.

Case Study

Fluid and Electrolytes

Case Study: Edema

approx 30 min

Ms. Rand is a 65-year-old woman who spends most of her day sitting on her porch and recovering from a recent surgery involving the removal of suspected cancerous lymph glands in the inguinal area. She is now complaining that her shoes are fitting too tightly, and she has developed poorly healing sores on her legs and ankles. A closer examination also shows distention in her varicose veins. Blood tests reveal a low level of proteins in the plasma.

Question 1

Based on the patient history and the signs and symptoms, identify the fluid imbalance the patient is experiencing, and state the rationale for your answer.

Answers may vary.

Question 2

Discuss the four general causes of edema and how they apply in the case of this patient.

Answers may vary.

Question 3

Discuss the swelling, sores, varicose vein distention, and other effects that edema can have on a patient.

Case Study

Hematologic System

Case Study: Pernicious Anemia

approx 30 min

Mr. Alvis, age 57, presented to his physician with marked fatigue, nausea with occasional diarrhea, and a sore, swollen tongue. Lately he also has been experiencing a tingling feeling in his toes and a feeling of clumsiness. Microscopic examination of a blood sample indicated a reduced number of erythrocytes, many of which are megaloblasts, and a reduced number of leukocytes, including many large, hypersegmented cells. Hemoglobin and serum levels of vitamin B12 were below normal. Additional tests confirm pernicious anemia.

Question 1

Relate the pathophysiology of pernicious anemia to the manifestations listed above.

Answers may vary.

Question 2

Discuss how the gastric abnormalities contribute to vitamin B12 and iron deficiency and how vitamin B12 deficiency causes complications associated with pernicious anemia.

Answers may vary.

Question 3

Discuss other tests that could be performed to diagnose this type of anemia.

Answers may vary.

Question 4

Discuss the treatment available and the limitations.

Case Study

Cardiovascular System

Case Study: Cardiovascular System – Atherosclerosis

approx 30 min

Mr. Kelly is a 57-year-old man who consulted his physician after noticing marked leg pains while playing golf. He had previously noticed increasing fatigue and discomfort in his legs associated with moderate exercise. When sitting for extended periods with legs dangling, his legs became red, and sometimes his feet felt numb. His history indicates he smokes cigarettes and is chronically overweight. His blood cholesterol and other lipid levels are abnormal, and his physician suspects peripheral atherosclerosis as the cause of his discomfort.

Question 1

Discuss the development of atherosclerosis, including the predisposing factors in this case and the pathophysiological changes.

Answers may vary.

Question 2

Discuss the complications that might develop in this patient.

Answers may vary.

Question 3

Discuss the treatments for all aspects of the patient’s condition, including slowing the progress of the atherosclerosis, maintaining circulation in the leg, and treating complications.

 
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Androids and the Mind/Body Problem

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PHIL 201 FORUM 1 DISCUSSION (LIBERTY UNIVERSITY)

Topic: Androids and the Mind/Body Problem

Note: In order to complete this assignment, you need to have read the Discussion Board Forum 1 Instructions, the Star Trek episode synopsis found in the Module/Week 3 Reading & Study folder, and chapter 3 of the Hasker textbook. You also need to have viewed the video presentation “The Mind/Body Problem” and the PointeCast presentation “Proposed Solutions to the Mind/Body Problem.” If you have not done so, stop now to read and view that material.

For your thread: After reading the synopsis (or viewing the episode), write a substantive response (at least 350 words) and post it in the forum. Your thread must address the first question below. You may also address several of the other questions, but the bulk of your response must be on the first question and relating the story to chapter 3 of the Hasker textbook as well as both the video presentation “The Mind/Body Problem” and the PointeCast presentation “Proposed Solutions to the Mind/Body Problem.” Any quotes from sources must be cited and will not count towards your word count.

• From your reading of Hasker, and using the categories he uses, what view of the mind/body problem do you think is exhibited by Picard? By Maddox? Support your answer.

• Maddox lists 3 criteria for a being to be sentient: intelligence, self-awareness, and consciousness. Are these adequate? Can you think of other properties or characteristics a being needs to have in order to be considered a “person”? What might they be?

• Do you think that artificial intelligence to the level as it is presented in the story will someday be possible? Why or why not?

• Do you think Maddox is right when he claims that Picard is being “irrational and emotional” in his view of Data?

• Do you agree with the JAG officer’s final ruling? Why or why not?

• If A.I. does become possible, will we have obligations to treat machines “ethically”?

BONUS: FOUR DIFFERENT ANSWER POSTED CHOOSE ONE

 
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