Mary Midgley: Trying out ones new sword
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What I expect to learn:
In this chapter, I expect to learn what moral isolationism is and to understand
different values and beliefs of other people.
Quote:
“Understanding has degrees. It is not a slapdash yes-or-no matter.”
Review:
In this chapter, Midgley talks about moral isolationism. Here, what I really remember is
the old Japanese tradition that a samurai sword had to be tried out because , if it was to
work properly or before you can say that the samurai is ready to use it had to slice
through someone at a single blow, from the shoulder to the opposite flank. Otherwise,
the warrior could ijure his honor, offend his ancestors, and even let down his emperor.
When we think of traditions like this, we can immediately say or question their culture
but in this chapter what it tells us is that we need to be in the position to judge and
criticize them. We must be qualified or be a member of their culture to say that we can
pass judgment on them. We first need to understand things before we argue, before
we discuss things and before we can say that one is wrong. That is what moral
isolationism is. On the other hand, we all know that we can learn from our strangers
and there are times that we want to learn from them but to do this, we have to
distinguish between those strangers who are worth learning from and those who are
not. Sometimes we really need to be open in order to improve. Just like what Midgley
says “Furthermore, it falsely assumes that cultures are separate and unmixed,
whereas most cultures are in fact formed out of many influences. Here we can see that
yes it is true especially we as Filipinos, we know that we got so many influences from
different races especially when the Spanish, Americans and Japanese conquer the
Philippines. In the last sentence of this chapter, it says that there is only one world, and
we all have to live in it. Yes, that’s right we are all different but we are living in one world
and because of that we need to open our minds to one another and accept changes for
improvement or development.
What I have learned:
I’ve learned in this chapter that before we criticize or jusge other’s beliefs or
cultures, we must first try to understand them and try to imagine how to be in their
position. Think first before you react.
Integrative questions:
1. What is moral isolationism?
2. What is Midgley’s point about tsujigiri?
3.
Why is the chapter entitled Trying out ones new sword?
John Stuary Mill:Utilitarianism
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What I expect to learn:
In this chapter, I expect to learn more about Utilitarianism and understand the
different principles about it.
Quote:
“It is better to be a human being dissatisfied than a pig satisfied; better to be
Socrates dissatisfied than a fool satisfied.”
Review:
In this chapter, I can say that John Stuart aspires to develop a positive view of the
world and the place of humans in it, one which contributes to the progress of human
knowledge, individual freedom and human well-being. He tackles here the foundation
of morals, Utility, or the Greatest Happiness Principle, he said that an action is morally
right if it brings happiness to a person (absence of pain), and wrong if it causes pain.
Also in this chapter, it is stated that no reason can be given why the general
happiness is desirable, except that each person, so far as Stuart believes to be
attainable, desires his own happiness. And for me that is true, we all want to be happy.
Some people became so positive or productive when they are happy, it is for me an
inner force that drives a person to a better condition. In addition to that, Stuart says
that people should consider the majority or those higher in terms of number that can be
happy by a certain events, and or decisions. Sometimes, we found answers to our
problems by asking people especially when it’s so hard to decide, so we ask others to
what they think will be great for us and when we found that many people will be happy
on this side we will tend to follow them because for them this thing will be good for you
or this will give you happiness. These things made me think that it is not always right
to pursue or follow the likes of the majority. It might always depends on the situation.
The best example here is when you’re in a situation that you think you need to lie to
save your classmates, when you’re teacher asks you if your classmates really did
their assignments or just copied theirs from you and you’re confused what to say. Will
you let your teacher punish your classmates because you think you’re teaching them
the right thing or they will be a better person if you will be honest or will you simply say
a lie and continue tolerate your classmates. I think it always depends on the
betterment not on the majority.
What I have learned:
I’ve learned in this chapter that we need to think also for the future consequences
of our desires and decisions. Yes, we need to love our neighbor as we love ourselves
but we need to think what will be the best way for them. Not all the time, we need to
help them and be happy for then especially when they are doing wrong.
Integrative questions:
1. What is Utilitarianism?
2. What does the Principle of Utility says?
3.
What is Stuart trying to say in this article?
James Rachels: The Debate Over Utilitarianism
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What I expect to learn:
In this chapter, I expect to learn and understand different views of people about
Utilitarianism.
Quote:
“Instead, they are individuals who, by their own choices, show themselves to
deserve different kinds of responses”
Review:
While reading this chapter, I immediately got so interested in what Rachels is
pointing out because what she is saying here is what I actually say against in the last
article about Stuart. I like what Rachels says here that Happiness is not something
that is recognized as good and sought for its own sake, with other things appreciated
only as means of bringing it about. Instead, happiness is a response we have to the
attainment of things that we recognize as goods, independently and in their own right.
That is why I agree that Hedonism gets things the wrong way around. Also in this
article, I think the idea that in order to determine whether an action would be right, we
should look at what will happen as a result of doing it is really right. We need to look
first about the outcomes of an act before we say that this act is morally right.
Furthermore, there are two bases or theories where we can say an act is right first is
by the rule-utilitarianism, it is the new version of the theory which rules are established
by reference to the principle and individual’s acts will then be judged right and wrong
by reference to the rules or to make it simple for rule utilitarian, you can say that the
act is right by looking on the amount of good it brings when pursued. In contrast, the
act-utilitarianism is the original theory. Act utilitarian judge actions in terms of the
goodness of their consequences or outputs. Just like what Rachels said “Common
sense” can, indeed, mislead us. We cannot deny that sometimes we tend to follow or
make a decision because it is what the majority says. Sometimes we need to think
first about the other factors or consequences before we decide. We may ask
ourselves the questions: What are the consequences of this act? and also most
importantly we must ask if it it’s a moral act? Is it right?
What I have learned:
I’ve learned in this chapter that we have the ability to choose what is right.
And when choosing, we can’t always choose the right one, so we must be careful. We
must choose the best goals using the best possible means to bring about the best
possible results.
Integrative questions:
1. What is act-utilitarianism?
2. What is rule-utilitarianism?
3.
How Stuart’s point of view differs from Rachels?