Other Homework Help

Required Resources

Read/review the following resources for this activity:

• Textbook: Chapters 7, 8
• Lesson
• Minimum of 1 scholarly source (in addition to the textbook)

Initial Post Instructions
The principle of utility involves maximizing happiness as a desirable outcome of decisions. Although it does not get directly said, there is an inverse intention to minimize the undesirable outcome of disaster. Utilitarian decisions are directed toward outcomes—that is, the consequences of decisions.

We need to look at results. We first look at the actual results of an action. We judge if it was the best possible result. We can judge the actual results in comparison to other results that reasonably could be said to have been possible.

If we do not yet have the actual results of an action, we do not know if it is moral or not. We can talk hypothetically about what might happen, and then what that would show about the morality of an action. However, if we do not know what the action had as its consequences, we cannot yet say if it is moral or not.

Initial Post Instructions
For the initial post of this week’s discussion respond to one of the following options, and label the beginning of your post indicating either Option 1, Option 2, or Option 3:

Option 1: You are a nurse on a floor with only elderly patients. Every day, each patient tells you about how much pain they are in and asks you to help them. They want you to inject them with something to end their lives. If the patients die, the beds on that floor would be freed up for other patients. The hospital is at 100 percent capacity. There is no other hospital for 30 miles. Other patients may be not receiving care due to a lack of free beds. What is the moral thing to do here? Why is that the moral thing to do? What would an utilitarian say is the moral thing to do? Why would they say that? Compare and contrast the utilitarian approach with that of an ethical egoist or social contact theorist

Option 2: A new social media app is offering itself to you for free. If you upload a picture to it, the app will show how you will look at 10 years. John Doe, a friend of yours, says not to use the app as it will then possess your biometric facial data. Jane Doe, another friend of yours, says that she heard the app shares the facial data with a security firm that helps the government detect terrorists at airports. Should you use this app? Why or why not? If John Doe is right, would an utilitarian say it is right to use the app? Why or why not? If Jane Doe is right, would a social contract theorists say it is right to use the app? Consider the role the Fourth Amendment at play here.

Option 3: You are a nursing student at the XYZ College. It has a 50 percent acceptance rate (half the applicants do not get in). XYZ is a public college. XYZ has decided to implement an affirmative action policy. The college has few students over the age of 50. To encourage more students of that age, every student 50 or older will receive a bonus point. A student’s admission is dependent on having 11 points. One earns points for a GPA above a certain score, ACT/SAT score above a certain number, having a letter of recommendation, etc. XYZ also lacks LGBT students, Muslim, and African-American students and is considering offering a bonus point for any student fitting those categories. What is the key moral conflict for XYZ? What social values should XYZ promote here? What diverse populations are involved here, and what are their interests? Do you think XYZ’s social action is the correct solution to lack of diversity? Why or why not? Factor the ethics of egoism and utilitarianism into your answer.

Follow-Up Post Instructions
Respond to at least one peer. If possible, respond to one peer who chose an option different than the one you chose. Further the dialogue by providing more information and clarification. Make sure that you add additional information and not repeat the same information already posted on the discussion board as you further the dialogue.

Writing Requirements

• Minimum of 2 posts (1 initial & 1 follow-up)
• Minimum of 2 sources cited (assigned readings/online lessons and an outside scholarly source)
• APA format for in-text citations and list of references

Student Sample:

Hello Class

Option 2

When it comes to deciding if I should use the app or not, I personally would use it. The reason why I made that choice is because it is a fun app that can let me see myself 10 years from now. Having the ability to potentially see your future self is a very appealing concept that would have many people intrigued. I always had a fascination with the idea of seeing how your facial features might change as you grow older. Whether you start to get grey hair or if the term “black don’t crack” can be applicable. I also believe it is great that a security firm uses the facial data to helps when it comes to terrorists. That is a very smart strategy that most people would not be able to detect let alone discover. I understand where John Doe is coming from, because that facial data can be put in the wrong hands and used with evil intentions. It is very tricky, because once you put that data out there you cannot take it back. However, Jane Doe’s point makes the concern become less and less. A social contract theorist would only accept it as being right if there’s contractual agreement put in place. They will only give the facial data if it guarantees that the data be use for good and not bad. Without that, they would not use the app or believe it is right to be used. The Fourth Amendment brings an intriguing concept to it, given that it can potentially allow an officer just to cause to use the data as a way to help a case (United States Courts, 2020). That brings a new element to John Doe’s point and not using the app. Given all the facts and possibilities that come into the equation, I still side with Jane Doe and using the app. Regardless of what the facial data can do, if you not doing wrong then there is nothing to worry about.

References:

Rachels, J., & Rachels, S. (2019). The elements of moral philosophy. [VitalSource Bookshelf]. Retrieved from https://bookshelf.vitalsource.com/#/ books/9781260213003/ (Links to an external site.)

What Does the Fourth Amendment Mean? United States Courts. https:// www.uscourts.gov/about-federal-courts/educational-… (Links to an external site.)