I am so flippin sick of CHM139

So I'm taking (a probably not earned yet) break. :)

It's a funny one... I can't seem to get anywhere over a 65 in that course for my tests, no matter how hard I study... course that meant I was below the average on the first term test and far above it on the second, but nevermind.

Here is some random social theorizing for you:


.... or not. The thing I wanted to type in disappeared. Dammit. that means I left my phil book at home...

ah well. My thesis for my phil essay shall have to do.

My question posed was regarding Utilitarianism, indirect utilitarianism in specific. I'll post the argument I make, with the example that makes it clear, instead of all the boring and obtuse theory that comes from the contemporary moral philosopher we're reading:

Definition: "indirect utilitarianism is a kind of utilitarianism which recognizes that an agent is more likely to act rightly by developing the right attitudes, habits and principles, (presumably utilitarian) then acting on them, rather than trying to calculate the value of the consequence before deciding to act.

Williams also includes the expression of a character disposition in his definition, which leads to the idea of agent centred values, and what role they play.

So, in answering the question as to what role agent centred values play, I come to the crux of my thesis: In that indirect utilitarianism is in fact, utilitarianism, but only if the agent centred values are in of themselves utilitarian. This begs an education in utilitarian morality, which is not inconsistent with Mill's assertion that "moral feelings are not innate, but acquired, and not for that reason less natural."

It also requires an ongoing interest and engagement in the society that you happen to inhabit, so that the moral choices that you make (while not specifically utilitarian, per se) are still informed and enlightened.

This would work well with Mill's assertion that "education and opinion, which have so vast a power over human character, should so use that power as to establish in the mind of every individual an indissoluble association between his own happiness and the good of the whole."

The day to day actions that you take will therefore, even if on a subconscious level, be more likely to promote utilitarian values.

So, now I have to bring forward an example of what I mean.

Take for example, a utilitarian view of what should be done about the environment. In a direct utilitarian view, one should do everything in their power to reduce the harm they inflict upon the environment. That is, they should live close to their place of work, and walk or bike there, they should also eat low on the food chain and wear only natural clothing. I'll stop here before I draw too much of a caricature of the tree hugging hippie. That is, their every action should be one in accordance with saving the environment.

For an indirect utilitarian however, it may be morally admissable to live in the suburbs and drive a car, so long as they are studying ways in which the environment can be helped. Especially if living in the city means that they're unable to afford going to school.

However, both situations require an analysis of utilitarian principles at some level, and a justification of utilitarian principles at some level. It is the person that lives in accordance with environmental principles that seems to have less of a hard time sleeping at night, but the person studies the environment for solutions to pressing issues that can be actualized in a far greater degree that seems to have the potential to do a greater good and maximize utility overall.

The only person who would not be able to lay claim to either of these edicts, it would seem, is the uneducated one: uneducated in both the utilitarian principle and the harm reduction strategies on the environment.


There's much (much!) more, but it gets more referential to the text from then on, so I won't post it, as it's really boring if you haven't actually read the text. :P

Okie, that was a good exercise. back to chem now, I suppose (I don't think I've ever looked forward to a course finishing as much as I am looking forward to this one finishing.... )