Consider this case: Suppose you have a very close elderly woman friend, and you
ID: 3524942 • Letter: C
Question
Consider this case: Suppose you have a very close elderly woman friend, and you are talking to her one night. She is ill and will likely die soon. She brings out a briefcase and says that there is some money in it. She also says that if she dies, she wants you to promise to give the briefcase and its contents to her nephew. You tell her that you promise to do it. She is very happy that you have promised to do this for her. She tells you that no one else knows about your promise. After a tearful goodbye, you leave. The next day, you find out that she has died, and the case is given to you with information about the nephew. You open the case, and there is $50,000 in it. The nephew lives in Las Vegas. You go to Las Vegas, but you discover that her nephew is an addicted gambler and alcoholic. He spends his days drinking and gambling, and he spends all his money on booze and gambling. He lives in poverty. Knowing this about him, what would you do? Answer the following 3 questions. (1) Would you keep your promise and hand him the case with the $50,000? Explain why or why not. Defend your decision with reasons. (2) What do you think a utilitarian would do? Explain. (3) Did you use utilitarian reasons to defend your decision (like appealing to the good or bad consequences of your decision)? Explain.
Explanation / Answer
Question-1
yes i would keep my promise and hand him the case with $50,000.
Because I would like to keep my promise only which is my responsibility . Women friend did not keep any condition to give the content to her newphew. So its not my duty what his condition and what he is doiing . I will simply fullfill my responsibility.
Question-2
utilatarian believe that the purpose of morality is to make life better by increasing the amount of good things such pleasure and happiness and dreasing the amount of bad things like unhappiness.
So utlilatarian would take decision on the basis of consequences and do that things which gives pleasure .it is totally deviated from existing moral and supernatural values.its alwys believe in best utility.a utlilatarian believe in greatest utlity. So they will take decision that promise should keep and give the content of $50,000 . Because they believed in best utlity and pleasure is best good things . Her nephew can improved his condition and remove proverty. It also helps him to give him pleasure .
3. yes , i have seen utilitarian reason defends my desion . I just would like to keep my promise wheather utilitarian just give him pleasure through best utlization of money .