As
you read the section on objections to utilitarianism, use the following
questions to guide you. You won’t be asked to turn in your answers to these
questions, but these questions, or questions very similar to them, may appear
on a quiz – and you will be allowed to use your notes, including your answers
to these questions, on the quiz.
1.
The Case of Sam, The Case of the Bungling Burglar, and the Case of the Happy
Sadists, all describe situations in which an action maximizes happiness but is
morally wrong nonetheless. Tell one of these stories in your own words
and explain how it challenges the basic assumption of utilitarianism.
2.
The Case of the Misguided Matchmaker describes a situation in which an action
is morally good even though it doesn’t maximize happiness. Tell this story in
your own words and explain how it challenges the basic assumption of
utilitarianism.
3.
What is the Means Objection to utilitarianism?
4.
What is the Motives Objection to utilitarianism?
5.
What is the Moral Luck Objection to utilitarianism?
6.
What is the Toggle Problem?
7.
What is the Morally Bad Happiness Objection to utilitiarianism?