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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
This 4 page paper uses a hypothetical situation presented by a student as a springboard for discussion. Hume's ideas about utility and Kant's categorical imperative are considered. Bibliography lists 2 sources.
Page Count:
4 pages (~225 words per page)
File: RT13_SA719can.rtf
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
Honolulus mayor creates a board of ethics to, according to a student, "consider the justifiability of practicing cannibalism." The concept would entail the use of a lottery to decide
who will be eaten that day. This idea is reminiscent of Shirley Jacksons the story The Lottery. It tells the tale of an odd but quaint town. All of the
townspeople agree that in order to let off steam, and so everyone will be happy in the long run, there would be a lottery. Each year, one individual would be
chosen at random and stoned to death. This would alleviate any tensions that might be around. Each year, only one person would die. Everyone agrees that this is fair. Of
course, the case at hand at least entails a situation where there is a life and death struggle. The solution is suggested not for psychological purposes, but for the survival
of the species. However, there are several ethical considerations in deciding whether or not cannibalism is justifiable. When deciding whether the practice is ethical in certain situations, one has to
consider whether or not there is an intrinsic morality or universal rights and wrongs, and whether situational ethics would apply. For example, one philosopher might say that it is
always wrong to kill other people, or one might may qualify that idea by saying that it is always wrong to eat other human beings, even though in some circumstances
it is okay to kill, such as in wartime. Yet, some philosophers might say that it is better to eat people than to let a population die, if it
ensures the survival of the species. What might Hume and Kant say? In general, for Hume, utility seems to be mans highest good. All people have to do is live
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