MODULE 5: Bentham and Mill
Name: Chatrina B. Lunag Course Code: 0432
Course and Year: BA Political Science 1 Date:11/02/2021
EVALUATE
CASE ANALYSIS 1: Given the correct analysis and application of the frameworks, you
can gain 30 points for the two parts of this quiz.
A. Using Jeremy Bentham's step-by-step
felicific calculus, justify the act of
following the protocols on
community quarantine (choose ONE
only: staying inside the house,
wearing masks when outside, and
maintaining social distancing). (15
points)
During the pandemic, one is given the choice of either wearing a mask out in
public or not; one may be able to make the best possible decision by using the
felicific calculus to measure the pleasure and pain from the two alternatives of
action.
The intensity element will ask the variability of the more substantial pleasure
and the lesser pain one may derive from whether or not one should wear a mask in
public. The pleasure of not wearing may be more intense if one prefers not to use
their money to buy masks or find masks bothersome and uncomfortable to wear in
general. However, one should also consider that wearing a mask would be able to
protect them and those around them. In that case, the discomfort of wearing a
mask does not outweigh the pleasure of being able to keep themselves and the
people around them safe from the virus.
In duration, it asks the length of time of pleasure or pain one may derive from
the two alternatives. In a way, wearing a mask out in public would lead to more
prolonged pleasure. This may be said because when one wears a mask, the
probability of the virus's transmission would be lower. Therefore, they would be
actively aiding in eliminating the virus as soon as possible, which would then cause
more extended pleasure if one were to live in a world without covid-19.
In certainty or the "sureness" of pleasure, it asks the probability of the
occurrence of pleasure and pain because it is not always an excellent option to
choose from uncertainty. It has been scientifically proven that wearing a mask
would reduce the spread of the virus. Accordingly, one could consider that it would
undoubtedly steer to happiness if one prevents themselves and others from the pain
of contracting the virus.
The propinquity element deals with the circumstances of "nearness" and
"remoteness" of pleasure and pain to be achieved. One can say that the pleasure of
being rid of covid-19 from our society is farther off in the future due to multiple
variables than having the pleasure of being rid of the discomfort of wearing a mask
for an individual. Nonetheless, being able to protect oneself and others would allow
one the closest to reaching happiness.
Also, to be considered is fecundity, or the capacity to engender further
pleasure; and purity. Wearing a mask may allow one to the direction of even more
happiness further in life if they were to aid in ridding and lessening the virus's spread
to the public and themselves.
Purity is also assumed to figure out the probability of not being followed by
sensations of the opposite kind. The likelihood of an individual's pleasure of not
wearing a mask leading to pain in the future is very high, considering that it may
cause pain to themselves and those around them when they contract the virus and
further transmit it to more people.
Finally, the extent or the number of people affected is considered. Extent
brings into balance the happiness of other people involved. Hence, the more, the
merrier. Further, if more than one of the elements is involved in an action, all the
other amounts of pleasure and pain must be accounted for. Therefore, the
innocuous act of wearing a mask in public may bring the most amount of happiness
to most people as it helps prevent the transmission and alleviate the virus for
everyone. Not wearing a mask in public without a valid reason other than feeling
uncomfortable and not wanting to buy masks are selfish reasons that only lead to
one individual's happiness.
B. Analyzing Mill’s utilitarianism, how do you think will he react to the current mode of
education in our country, which is Distance Learning Education (DLE)? Justify your
analysis in NOT MORE THAN 300 words. (15 points)
To assume Mill's reaction to Distance Learning Education (DLE), we must first
understand our country's current state regarding this matter. Though DLE has its perks
of being very flexible to utilize, especially in the status quo with the ongoing
pandemic. It still has a myriad of issues that have inevitably negatively affected the
quality of education students are receiving and have hindered teachers from
providing the best quality of teaching. To elaborate, there is the matter of the fact
that DLE itself is a privilege; not everyone has accessibility to devices to use for online
learning, most notably in a country with about 20% of its citizens in a state of poverty.
Accessibility is hindered even more with an expensive internet connection, poor
internet quality, and the constant community lockdowns. For all those reasons, along
with the government's inability to bridge the digital divide that many are
experiencing, the quality of our education continues to deteriorate.
Mill declares that the more valuable pleasures employ "higher faculties"; the
list of such better enjoyments includes the satisfaction of intellect. Moreover, he
makes an empirical claim that almost all acquainted with pleasures that employ
higher faculties agree that they are preferable to the lower ones, which he uses as
evidence to claim that they are true of higher value. This actively demonstrates the
level at which Mill places such great emphasis on education and believes it would
lead to a greater degree of happiness. For that reason, I think that Mill would react
negatively to the current state of how DLE is being implemented since though online
learning aims to provide quality education, it ultimately fails to do so for everyone
else who is not privileged enough. In that sense, he believes that we will not reach
the highest level of happiness as our higher faculties are not being met.
The following rubric shall be applied for scoring:
Understanding of the ethical framework –------------------------- 10
Shows correct analysis (7-10)
Shows slight error in analysis (4-6)
Several errors in the analysis are apparent (1-3)
Misinterpretation of concepts is clearly evident 0
Presence of supporting claims and/examples -------------------- 3
Spelling and grammar ----------------------------------------------------- 2
TOTAL Score: 15 points
