***Terminology for the following two questions*** ➢ Utilitarianism  Utilitarianism is a consequentialist theory. Right and wrong depends on the consequences of one’s actions for everyone who might be affected by them.  Principle of Utility • The right action is the one that produces the greatest balance of pleasure over pain, or happiness over unhappiness, for everyone affected by that action. ➢ Deontology (The Ethics of Duty)  Categorical Imperative is a command or rule that has no exceptions.  Categorial Imperative – First Formulation  Act only according to that maxim by which you can at the same time will that it should become universal law. • A maxim is a general rule. • Ask yourself what general rule would describe what you are thinking about doing. If you cannot will that it should be ok for everyone to do it, then you can’t make an exception for yourself or for any other reason. • Illogical: You can’t at the same time believe that it is okay to steal from a store and at the same time want there to be stores. If everyone thought it was ok to steal from stores, stores couldn’t exist.  Categorical Imperative – Second Formulation  Act so that you treat humanity, whether in your own person or in that of another, always as an end and never as a means only. • Don’t use people. Don’t exploit or manipulate them. • Respect human beings because they can think for themselves and have an independent will. You should write a one-page essay (it should be about ~ 250-300 words) for “each” of the following 2 questions. Your essays should be double-spaced, 1-inch margins, 12-point font. If possible, print on both sides of one sheet of paper. If not, staple two pages together. Don’t use a cover page or any sort of binder or folder. The top of each page should include your name, the date, and your section number. You don’t need a title and don’t rewrite the question. 1. Last week, a 19-year-old former student entered a high school in Florida and killed 17 people using an AR-15 assault rifle. Incidents like this one have been happening in the U.S. with alarming frequency since the 1999 murders at Columbine High School. If you were a member of Congress and a Utilitarian, what sort of legislation would you propose to prevent these tragedies? How would you explain your reasoning to your fellow members of Congress? 2. For the last several months, a number of famous and powerful men (and at least one woman) have been accused of sexual harassment and sexual assault. At the same time, many other famous people have been accused of knowing that the harassment and assaults were taking place but failing to speak out to defend the victims. If you were a Deontologist, and you knew that these incidents were taking place, would you feel obligated to speak out? Explain why or why not using the Categorical Imperative.