Discussion Post
Part I
Read the following scenario (originally presented by Bernard Williams) and answer the following questions.
"Jim, the traveler, finds himself in a central square of a small quaint town. Tied up against the wall are a row of twenty innocent people. The "captain" of the town comes out with a gun with the clear intention of killing them all. But he starts talking with Jim and grows fond of him. To honor Jim, the captain suggests, Jim can shoot one of the twenty people there. If Jim accepts to do so, then the captain will let the rest go; if Jim rejects his offer, however, then the captain will stick to the original plan and kill all twenty people. Should Jim take the offer or not?"
i. What would Hedonic Utilitarianists tell Jim to do? Briefly explain your answer. 150 WORDS
ii. Do you think that Jim should to what Hedonic Utilitarianists tell him to do? Why or why not? 200 WORDS
Part II
Read the scenario below and answer the following questions:
Frank constantly cheats on his wife. She recently grew suspicious of him, but he figured that telling his wife the truth won't do him any good. His wife might want to leave him even though he doesn't want to; and he hates confrontation of any kind. So Frank decides to lie to his wife that he is not cheating on her in order to keep his peace of mind.
i. Formulate the maxim behind the agent's act.
ii. Can the maxim pass the Universalizability Test? Why or why not? 150 WORDS
iii. Is the act in question morally permissible, according to the Humanity as Ends version of the Categorial Imperative? Why or why not?
The response must include a reference list. One-inch margins, double-space, Using Times New Roman 12 pnt font and APA style of writing and citations.