Create a framework for developing one's own ethical and moral philosophy.

Proposal/Source Evaluation Worksheet

Part I: Proposal

There are different arguments brought about what is right and what is wrong. Utilitarianism is one of the ethical theories that is used to determine what is right from wrong, depending on the consequences. However, Mill acknowledges utilitarianism as a theory based on the principle of whether actions are right or not depending on their proportion to promote happiness. If the actions promote happiness, then it is deemed to be right, and if it brings about reverse happiness, then it is deemed to be wrong. It would be wise to explore the theory deeper so as to clearly understand some of the advantages that it brings about and the limitations of the theory. More to this, there must be a comparison with the other theories that exist so as to determine alternatives or any other concepts that can be used.

Part II: Source Evaluation

Article Title: Economic justice and liberty

Article Author: Su, H. C

Database or Web URL: Google Scholar

Source’s Publication Date: 2013

Publishing Information: The social philosophy of John Stuart Mill’s utilitarianism.

Source Summary: the article focuses on the influential yet controversial topic of utilitarianism. The article has the main aim of giving and alternative account of justice to the dominant utilitarianism. This was done by using generalization and carrying the traditional theory of social contract. This helps provide a good base for comparison between different concepts of utilitarianism. Despite all the other theories put in place, the author decided to focus on the mill utilitarianism theory as the preferred theory to criticize.

Article Title:

Article Author: Michael Schefczyk

Database or Web URL: internet encyclopedia of philosophy.

Source’s Publication Date: 1865

Publishing Information: Karlsruhe Institut für Technologie

Source Summary: the article examines the ideas of Mills text on utilitarianism. The article focusses on the ethical rights and wrongs and even justifies punishments on actions made. The article further examines various other theories and determines that their differences lie on an axiological plane. More to this the article focusses on who is utilitarianism utilitarian’s and what are their moral principles so as to give a better comprehension of the topic. The article also is subdivided into various subtopics, each of them having a unique focus that will be compared against the theory brought forth by mill.

Article Title: The History of Utilitarianism

Article Author: Julia Drive

Database or Web URL: Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy

Source’s Publication Date: Mar 27, 2009

Publishing Information: N.A

Source Summary: the article begins by taking a stand that the theory of utilitarianism is one of the most influential and persuasive approaches that has been taken on normative ethics in the history of philosophy. The article gives insights on most arguments brought about by various individuals. John Stuart Mill is one of them. It tries to establish how utilitarianism has evolved over several years and what has been changed as time goes by.

References

Su, H. C. (2013). Economic justice and liberty: The social philosophy in John Stuart Mill’s utilitarianism. Routledge.

Darwall, Stephen, 1995. Hume and the Invention of Utilitarianism, University Park, PA: Penn State University Press.