Theory of utilitarianism Essay Example for Free

Theory of utilitarianism Essay The Philosophy of Utilitarianism may have a positive outcome, but it can be flawed at times as well. The Utilitarian theory states â€Å" The greatest happiness for the greatest number of people†. Some say this approach is flawed due to it lacking reason and consequence, I believe this depends on specific circumstances. Abortion is a big issue now a days and I feel that the utilitarian theory would be a reasonable outlook on this particular situation. To apply the Utilitarian theory to abortion, first we must relinquish right and wrong and the innate morals that follow, and focus on whether the end result compliments the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people. An example of such would be, Lets say a lady gets raped and becomes impregnated by the rapist, first and foremost one would gather that this woman would not want to bare her rapist child, being that the pregnancy will remind her everyday of this horrendous event, causing her constant displeasure and despair emotionally, physically, and mentally. An opposing party would say that adoption would be an alternative, and yes it would be, but this means that she would have to carry this child to term, go through the pain of childbirth and the legality of the adoption process. Everything stated causes this woman displeasure. If she does go this route there still is an issue, the child itself. Secrets always come out, one day this child will find out his/her father is a rapist and that will have a detrimental negative affect on this child. Also, what if he/she wants to meet the biological mother and she protests, yet again more displeasure. What if he/she is persistant on meeting the biological mother and a meeting does take place, the woman is faced with numerous discontentment, she would have to relive and face the events that she tried so hard to bury away in her mind. The utilitarian theory would state that having this child will cause nothing but pain for everyone in the situation including the unborn fetus. If abortion did take place the outcome would be in favor of the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people. Another example would be a young teenager experimenting in the sexual field, she can have a boyfriend or perhaps she has a one night stand and become pregnant. We will evaluate the situation from an utilitarian point of view, she is young, in school, single, lives at home with her parents and does not have an income. Again, adoption is an alternative, but she would still have to tell her parents, and be forced to grow up to early and miss out on her youth. Also, the pregnancy will become a burden on the teenagers parents, mentally, emotionally and financially, the outcome is unhappiness for all parties involved. Now what if a young couple gets pregnant, they would both have to drop out of school, the boyfriend who is a teenager has to become a man overnight and find a way to financially support the baby, a household and the mother. The couples parents would have to get involved and be burdened as well because of course they will try to help the young couple. A pregnancy is a blessing but it can also be a burden. An unplanned pregnancy puts stress and burdens on individuals and on couples and it is extremely hard to get through. Yet again adoption is relavant to all of these situations, but it still causes everyone involved displeasure including the baby. In all example the baby would suffer and be deprived in one way or another, whether it is proper schooling, being fed and clothed everyday and on an emotional level as well. The rapists child would one day find out the truth of how he/she was conceived. The single teenager and teenage couple would not be able to properly provide for the child, resulting in needing some sort of government assistance such as medical insurance and welfare where responsible adults pay their hard earned tax dollars. The overall outcome in all situation would not coinside with the utilitarian theory. An unexpected pregnancy is a difficult situation for any woman or couple to be in, regardless of financial stability or age. I am pro choice and believe in women having the right to choose. I also think that a woman in this situation should view it from an utilitarian’s point of view being that this theory takes the outcome of overall happiness to all people in this situation under strong consideration. If we considered this theory on the topic of abortion. I feel that the philosophy of utilitarianism would be an adequate choice.

The Character of Dee in Alice Walkers Everyday Use Essay -- Alice Wal

The Character of Dee in Alice Walker's Everyday Use Alice Walker skillfully crafts the character of Dee Johnson in the short story "Everyday Use." From the first paragraph, Walker begins to weave the portrait of Dee, who at first seems shallow in many aspects. Dee becomes a more complex character, however, as the story unfolds. Blessed with both brains and good looks, Dee emerges as someone who is still struggling with her identity and heritage. Dee's physical beauty can be defined as one of her biggest assets. The fact that Maggie sees Dee "with a mixture of envy and awe" (409) cues the reader to Dee's favorable appearance. The simplistic way in which Walker states that "Dee is lighter than Maggie, with nicer hair and a fuller figure" (410) gives the reader the idea that Dee's beauty has made it easier for her to be accepted outside her family in society. We are left with the impression that Dee's appearance is above average. Walker plays on Dee's physical beauty to contrast the homeliness of Maggie and her mother. Walker goes so far as to describe her feet as "always neat-looking, as if God himself had shaped them with a certain style" (411). In describing Dee's feet, Walker is giving the impression of perfection from head to toe. Dee's outward beauty has "made her transition from poor farm girl to that of an educated, middle-class black woman possible" (Allen-Polley 11). Needless to say, Dee doesn't seem comfor table with her past and therefore has a difficult time accepting her future. It is as though she is not really connected with her family anymore. She simply needs them to fulfill their positions in her recreated past. Dee's motivation in returning home seems to be not just seeing her family ... ...ng part of one's life. The character of Dee has many facets. She is blessed with good looks and a strong desire to succeed, but her blind and self-serving desire for success does hamper how she perceives her past and her heritage. By hiding "everything above the tip of her nose and her chin" (415), she deftly manages to disguise herself from anyone who might discover true ancestry. She refuses to accept her past as it really happened. She wants to be able to create the images to her liking. The past is something that cannot be recreated to suit our new ideas, however: It is a part of us that cannot be changed. Sources Allen-Polley, Kathryn. "Dee's Heritage." Ode to Friendship. Ed. Connie Bellamy. Virginia Wesleyan College, 1998. Walker, Alice. "Everyday Use." Harper Anthology of Fiction. Ed. Sylvan Barnet. New York: Harper Collins, 1991.

Pros and Cons of Same Sex Marriage

Pros and Cons of Same Sex Marriage Jasmaine Joseph April 19, 2013 Final Grade Same sex marriage is when two people with the same gender get married. Most people label it as homosexual, gay or lesbian marriage. Allowing same gender couples to legally marry is considered to be one of the most important of all  LGBT rights. Same sex marriage isn’t hurting anyone, personal I don’t have a problem with it. People should love and be able to marry anyone they please. America is supposed to be a free place.Argentina,  Belgium,  Canada,  Denmark,  Iceland the  Netherlands,  New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Spain, South Africa, and Sweden are the 12 countries that allow same sex marriage. Alaska and Hawaii were the first states to legally ban gay marriage in 1998. As of Nov. 7, 2012, gay marriage has been legalized in nine US states (ME, MD, MA, CT, IA, VT, NH, NY, and WA) and the District of Columbia. Though gay marriage wasn't legal until the 2000s, gay couples were getting married on TV shows in the 1990s.Sitcom Roseanne featured a gay marriage in 1995 while Friends featured a lesbian wedding in 1996. In 2004, the House passed what it called the Marriage Protection Act. This legislation would have prevented the federal courts from addressing the issue of marriage. The legislation was not brought up for a vote in the Senate. On May 9, 2012, President Obama made US History when he told ABC News, â€Å"I think same sex couples should be able to get married. † Obama was reelected for a second term in November, 2012.In recent polls, about 70 percent of voters under the age of 30 support same-sex marriage. It would be a major step forward for our country in ensuring all citizens have equal rights and no one is discriminated against based on things such as race, gender, religion, sexual preference, disability, and other factors that don’t determine a person’s self-worth and contribution to society. One issue that people have with same sex marriage is parenting. Scientific research shows that lesbian and gay parents are as fit and capable as heterosexual parents.I don’t think it’s fair that when a same gender couple adopt one parent has to be labeled as the step parent. Since gay couples cannot have kids naturally, this will likely increase the desire to adopt. Since there are so many kids around the country in need of adoption, this is a good thing. Marriage benefits should be available to all couples even if they are same sex. It is completely unfair to deny these privileges to people because their relationship doesn't fit the state's  definition  of one. Denying these marriages is a form of minority discrimination.Denying marriage to a homosexual couple is no different than denying marriage to  Hispanic  or black couples. An overwhelming amount of  research  has been done showing that homosexuality has a biological causation; not a genetic one, but a biological one. The easiest w ay to think of it is as a hormonal switch that gets thrown one way or the other. And if you think about it, it makes logical sense. Consider many gays and lesbians you've seen. The only thing that should matter in marriage is love. Marriage is commitments that say â€Å"I love you so much and I’m not leaving you for nothing in this world. There are lower STD rates among married homosexuals than among non-married or cohabiting homosexual couples. Married gay couples have higher average incomes than non-married or cohabiting gay couples. The same financial benefits that apply to opposite sex marriages would apply to same-sex marriages. These are some cons people have to say about same sex marriage. Most religions consider homosexuality a sin. Virtually every religion in the world, including the major ones in this country, considers homosexuality unacceptable.It is offensive and a swipe to the religious freedom of the majority to have to recognize a relationship they consider s inful. It confuses children about gender roles and expectations of society, and only a man & woman can pro-create. Children learn about expectations and gender roles from society. It's difficult to teach the importance and traditions of the family when such confusion is thrust upon them. The gay lifestyle is not something to be encouraged, as a lot of research shows it leads to a much lower life expectancy, psychological disorders, and other problems.Studies show that homosexuals, for a variety of reasons, have life expectancies of approximately 20 years less than the general population. Just like a lifestyle of smoking and drinking unhealthy lifestyles should be discouraged. It would weaken the definition and respect for the institution of marriage. Marriage should not be extended to same-sex couples because homosexual relationships have nothing to do with procreation. Allowing gay marriage would only further shift the purpose of marriage from producing and raising children to adul t gratification.Transmission rates of STDs through homosexual intercourse are higher than heterosexual intercourse. Both cannot be biological parents of their own children. Timeline †¢ September 21, 1996: President Clinton signs the Defense of Marriage Act, banning federal recognition of same-sex marriage and defining marriage as â€Å"a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife. † †¢ December 20, 1999: The Vermont Supreme Court rules that gay and lesbian couples should be given the same rights as heterosexual couples. November 18, 2003: The Massachusetts Supreme Court rules that a ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional. †¢ February 20, 2004: Sandoval County, New Mexico, issues 26 same-sex marriage licenses, but they are nullified by the state attorney general that day. †¢ February 12 to March 11, 2004: Nearly 4,000 same-sex couples get marriage licenses in San Francisco. †¢ February 24, 2004: President Bush announces support for a federal constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. †¢ February 27, 2004: New Paltz, New York, Mayor Jason West performs same-sex marriages for about a dozen couples. March 3, 2004: In Portland, Oregon, the Multnomah County Clerk's Office issues marriage licenses for same-sex couples. Benton County follows on March 24. †¢ June 7, 2004: West is issued a permanent injunction by the Ulster County Supreme Court against marrying same-sex couples. †¢ March 11, 2004: The California Supreme Court orders San Francisco to stop issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. †¢ May 17, 2004: The first legal same-sex marriages in U. S. history are performed in Cambridge, Massachusetts. †¢ July 14, 2004: The U.S. Senate blocks a proposed constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage (48 votes out of 60 needed). †¢ August 12, 2004: The California Supreme Court orders San Francisco officials, including Mayor Gavin Newsom, not to license additional sa me-sex marriages, pending resolution of the constitutional challenges to state marriage statutes †¢ April 25, 2011: King & Spalding, the private law firm hired by House Speaker John Boehner, backs out of defending the Defense of Marriage Act. †¢ May 12, 2011: Delaware Gov.Jack Markell signs legislation allowing civil unions between same-sex couples. The bill will take effect January 1, 2012. †¢ June 14, 2011: Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New York proposes the Marriage Equality Act, a bill to legalizes marriage for same-sex couples. †¢ June 14, 2011: U. S. District Court for the Northern District of California upholds a lower court ruling invalidating California's Proposition 8's ban on same-sex marriage as unconstitutional. The ruling had been challenged when the lower court's judge was found to be gay. June 24, 2011: The New York Senate votes to legalize same-sex marriage. Cuomo signs the bill just before midnight, and the bill goes into effect July 24, 2011. †¢ Ju ly 2, 2011: Gov. Lincoln Chafee signs legislation making Rhode Island the fifth state to allow civil unions between same-sex couples. †¢ September 30, 2011: The U. S. Department of Defense issues guidelines allowing military chaplains to perform same-sex ceremonies. †¢ January 30, 2012: Legislation to legalize same-sex marriage in the state of Washington passes a House committee vote and heads to the Senate.Gov. Chris Gregoire is in favor of the bill. †¢ February 1, 2012: The Washington state Senate passes a bill to legalize same-sex marriage by a vote of 28-21. On February 8, the House approves the measure by a vote of 55-43. †¢ February 7, 2012: A three-judge panel with the 9th U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco rules that Proposition 8, the voter-approved same-sex marriage ban, violates the Constitution. †¢ February 13, 2012: Gregoire signs a law making same-sex marriage is signed into law in Washington state.The law will go into effect in Ju ne unless opponents halt its implementation by putting it on the November 2012 ballot. †¢ February 13, 2012: The New Jersey state Senate passes a bill to legalize same-sex marriage by a vote of 24-16. †¢ February 17, 2012: New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie vetoes a bill legalizing same-sex marriage. New Jersey lawmakers have until the legislative session ends in January 2014 to override Christie's veto and would need a two-thirds majority in both houses to succeed. †¢ February 23, 2012: The Maryland Senate passes a bill to legalize same-sex marriage.The bill passed the Maryland House vote earlier in the month, and Gov. Martin O'Malley has promised to sign it into law. The law will go into effect in the summer if it survives a likely court challenge. †¢ May 8, 2012: North Carolina voters pass a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage, putting a ban that already existed in state law into the state's charter. †¢ May 9, 2012: Excerpts from an interview w ith ABC air in which Obama endorses same-sex marriage, the first such statement by a sitting president. He feels that the legal decision should be up to the states to determine. May 30, 2012: A lawsuit is filed in Illinois by nine same-sex couples challenging the constitutionality of a state law that denies same-sex couples the right to marry. References  © 2013 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved ( http://www. cnn. com/2012/05/31/us/ff-same-sex-marriage ) Written by: Joe Messerli ( http://www. balancedpolitics. org/same_sex_marriages. htm ) http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Same-sex_marriage http://topics. nytimes. com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/s/same_sex_marriage/index. html

Chris Brown- Hip Hop Entertainer Free Essay Example, 1000 words

In fact, according to Caramanica, violence defines most of Chris Brown s narrative even now, more than five years after attacking Rihanna. The 2014 album, X, that has featured a number of female artists is meant to rebuild Brown s self-image, particularly with regards to his relationship with women. His latest album features female artists such as Brandy, Jhene Aiko and the young pop star Ariana Grande. Initially, according to Caramanica, Brown had rarely collaborated with female artists, and almost never on his own albums . In fact, even his collaborative song with Jordin Sparks titled No Air appeared on her album. One of the major influences to the music career of Chris Brown was Michael Jackson. According to Turner, Michael Jackson is credited as the King of Pop music and has had a significant influence on musicians such as Justin Timberlake and Usher. In the album, Chris Brown tries to bring essence to Michael Jackson s classic R B music with the new age of music that is curr ently in the scene. In addition, Chris Brown tries to derive personal experiences by mixing art with reality. We will write a custom essay sample on Chris Brown- Hip Hop Entertainer or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/page According to Kallen, this form of music can be traced back to the days of William Christopher Handy who lived from 1873 to 1958. The great African American songwriter and composer is regarded as the Father of the Blues and is acknowledged for giving the blue music its present form. Just like Chris Brown who started his career at 16, Handy also began his illustrious musical career at a tender age of 19.