Prior to beginning work on this discussion forum, read Chapter 3 of the How Should One Live? An Introduction to Ethics and Moral Reasoning, and Chapter 2 of John Stuart Mill’s Utilitarianism . You should also read or view the resource your instructor has supplied for this discussion, which you will find in the instructor’s discussion prompt.
In the ancient Greece of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, a “symposium” was a banquet held after a meal, an “after-party” of sorts that usually included drinking, dancing, recitals, and engaging conversations on the topics of the day. For our purposes in this course, the Symposium discussions will not involve dancing, recitals, or a banquet, but they will provide food for thought on current ethical issues and direct application of the ethical theory discussed in each of these weeks.
For this Symposium discussion, your instructor will choose a topic of current ethical interest and a resource associated with it for you to read or watch. Your task is to consider how utilitarianism applies to the controversy, dilemma, event, or scenario selected by your instructor. It is a chance for you to discuss together the ethical issues and questions that it raises, your own response to those, and whether that response aligns with a virtue ethics approach. The aim is to identify, evaluate, and discuss the moral reasoning involved in addressing the chosen issue.
Discussion Topic: Charity, Celebrity, and Utilitarian Demands
This week, we will consider how utilitarianism applies to charity and celebrity. Please watch this video:Links to an external site.
Identify, evaluate, and discuss the moral reasoning involved in addressing Warren Buffet’s goal of giving away nearly all of his wealth to charity.
This famous financier is reported to have a will that leaves almost all his wealth to charity and only a few hundred thousand dollars to each of his three children. Buffet’s decision is not based on hatred towards his children but on his belief that inheriting great wealth is more harmful than helpful to a person. Do you agree with this position?
What do you think are some of the reasons why Buffett chooses to use his money in this fashion? Do you think his reasons are utilitarian?
Do you think all celebrities or wealthy people should do as Buffett has done? What should we (non-billionaires, ostensibly) give to charity?
Your posts should remain focused on ethical considerations. At some point in your contribution, you must address how a utilitarian would approach this issue by explaining and evaluating that approach.
When responding to peers, you should strive first to understand the reasons they are offering before challenging or critiquing those reasons. One good way of summarizing their argument before offering a critique or evaluation.
