Utilitarianism Discussion + Intro to Libertarianism

Today's learning goal

Understand the key differences and similarities between Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill's philosophies!  

Starter

One Philosophy, Two Different Moral Judgements
Step 1:  Watch the CNN report on the Supreme Court case, Morse v. Frederick (2002) aka “Bong Hits For Jesus”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6x5hLOd-vUU
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Step 2: Answer the two following questions in order to determine the morally correct court ruling on this case from John Stuart Mill’s utilitarian perspective AND Jeremy Bentham’s utilitarian perspective?

1. Jeremy Bentham would support the Court’s ruling that the First Amendment does not protect the individual’s right to freedom of speech because we need to protect the greater good.  How does the Court’s ruling protect the greater good?
2. J.S. Mills would say the Court’s ruling was morally wrong, because protecting individual liberty actually does benefit the greater good in the long run.  How does protecting FREE SPEECH benefit the greater good in the long run?
3. The court ruled in favor of the school on this issue, thus using Bentham’s line of reasoning.  How does this change the way you understand our protections under the First Amendment especially in the context of schools?

Agenda

Discuss the starter

Discussion of the "life boat scenario" from the beginning of Ch. 2
Remember the "lifeboat" scenario from last night's reading? Yeah, sure you do. It's the one about the English sailors adrift at sea, at the brink of starvation?  

• Why, according to a strict Utilitarian would killing Parker, the poor cabin boy, be morally justified?

• ​What are two OBJECTIONS to killing Parker? One uses Utilitarian reasoning, the other does not (p. 33)
• What is the MAIN idea of Utilitarianism?  
• What does Bentham mean when he says, “We are all governed by the feelings of pain and pleasure.  They are our ‘sovereign masters’. They govern us in everything we do and also determine what we ought to do” (34).  How does this apply to the concept of utilitarianism

​Time to work on the study group discussion questions for Ch. 2

• Work TOGETHER on the questions for today
• We'll check-in at the end of class to make sure y'all are on same page about the differences between Bentham and Mill's philosophies.  See pages 50-51 on Mill!

Powerpoint Lecture time!  

• Topic: Intro to Libertarianism-- to help you have some context for Ch. 3!! (See the slides on Libertarianism in the Moral and Political Philosophy of Justice Powerpoint on my Documents page)

Class Closing: Go over your understanding of today's learning goal with a partner.

• REMINDER!  Read Ch 3 by Monday.
  
• What are the differences and similarities between Mill and Bentham's philosophies? 
• What else did you learn today?
•  What connections are you making with this philosophy and the real world? Your life?