Consequences of the Actions, Essay Example

In the case of a mayor taking presents and privileges from present and potential partners for business in his city, it is possible to address the issue from the point of the greater good as an appropriate and logical benefit for both parties. As utilitarianism dictates achieving the best consequence possible by one’s actions, both the mayor and his partners receive what they want from such relationships (West, n.d.). The mayor has many financial benefits that allow him to live an elite life, while his partners ensure the positive attitude of the local government to their business affairs at the present moment and in the near future. Both parties are content with their relationships, giving each other what they need under the condition of having those resources. The position of Locke to the present situation would also be positive, as the financial relationships in which the parties are engaged provide well-being for both of them, hence they are moral. However, the situation would remain ideally moral under the artificial conditions of the community being ignorant of such relationships. Utilitarian positions are strong under the conditions that only the individual is taken in the focus of attention; even stealing or lying is explainable and justifiable from this point of view once nobody else knows about the event. Thus, in case community is engaged in the situation, the decision on whether the action is moral will be made on the basis of their cumulative opinions compared to the opinion of the mayor and his partners. In such situation the decision will surely be negative. My personal viewpoint is that the situation is immoral because it represents corruption punishable by law.

The teacher working on her doctorate and giving the same lectures to students is also a moral action from the point of view of greater good. Utilitarianism states that the intrinsic values of the human being are put to the fore in the judgment of morality (hedonism) (West, n.d.). As soon as the teacher wins her doctorate level, she is likely to pay more attention to the studies, and the whole world will receive her contribution by means of scientific achievements. However, one more position of utilitarianism states that the act can be classified as moral or immoral when both the act and alternative actions are compared from the angle of the greater good. Here the dilemma rises: in case the teacher pays more attention to improvement of her lectures and tests, she will be able to give more knowledge to her students, thus she will prepare better professionals who will do much more good to the state than her doctorate. Consequently, the greater good dictates taking care about many students as compared to her doctorate. My personal opinion is that lectures and tests may be appropriate for several years of study as different students listen to them every year, receiving similar knowledge and skills. It is impossible to say that these lectures are getting worse from year to year; they simply do not get better. Thus, the judgment of the present situation depends on the professional viewpoint on continuous advancement; if one thinks a teaching career is impossible with the help of static materials and without growth, then it is surely immoral. But from the point of view of Locke on personal well-being, the teacher achieves her doctorate progress and does not do any harm to her students.

Todd and Edna have surely made the correct decision from the viewpoint of utilitarianism; they have found the way to a healthy way of life through gaining more responsibility for a new member of their family, their unborn child. The cumulative consequence of their actions will be good for both of them – Todd will become more responsible and will find a job, and Edna will stop drinking knowing that she is pregnant (West, n.d.). The situation is completely moral from Locke’s point of view as both partners are striving to well-being and achieve it by means of having a child. However, my personal point of view is directed at the well-being of the child that is not taken into consideration by parents; the mother is a heavy drinker so her organism is completely unable to produce a healthy child. There is no guarantee that in case of an ill child being born, they will not leave it to the orphanage and will not continue their unhealthy life style practices. Thus, the decision seems far too radical for the solution of their personal problems. In case Edna and Todd approached the birth of their child seriously, they would engage in rehabilitation and health improvement for several months before making a child.

References

West, H.R. (n.d.). Utilitarianism. Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Retrieved July 23, 2010, from http://www.proficientwriters.com/view_order/239994