Utilitarianisms Principles And Moral - Free Essay Example

Act utilitarianism is an action that is morally required just because it does more to improve overall well-being than any other action you could have done in the circumstances. The principle of utility states that you should always perform the action that maximizes overall utility. Act utilitarianism and the principle of utility is a large portion of what I am going to refer to in this essay. The moral worth of any action is determined by outcome or consequences which explains why utilitarianism is a version of consequentialism. Utilitarianism is a form of teleological ethics. This idea is defended by John Stuart Mill (a hedonist), and an important British philosopher. A hedonist is a person who believes that the pursuit of pleasure is the most important thing in life; a pleasure-seeker. According to his beliefs, we are required to maximize the greatest good for the greatest good for the greatest number of people. I am defending an objection to this claim that utilitarianism has no real way to account for rights and that there is no action that is ruled immoral under this argument. In addition to this the argument of utilitarianism is ambiguous. The objection that I am defending states that (1) If utilitarianism is true, then it will never require us to commit serious injustices. (2) Utilitarianism sometimes requires us to commit serious injustices. So, (3) Utilitarianism is not true. Just because something makes all people happy does not make it right for all people. It is also wrong to harm certain individuals in order to make other people happy. The objection I am defending calls attention to problems to justice and in the rights of the individual and democratic equality. The first justice-related objection I am going to defend is problem of the violation of rights, for example, if there is a religious group whose practices are seen as offensive to the rest or majority of society. In a utilitarian population, members can decide that preventing the minority group from performing their religious acts would be proper for the well- being of the members. Consequently, because it would maximize the overall utility of the society. This can be seen as a problem because the group who holds different practices from the majority has their rights violated and impeded upon. According to the theory, if there is an event that occurs, that is not recognized as important or mandatory to the overall happiness of a given society, then it will not be supported. The principle is a selfish one because it is only having an interest in magnifying utilitarianism. This is can be demonstrated as negative principle for example, as shown in the television show, Black Mirror third season episode Men Against Fire. Soldiers are inserted with an implant called MASS, that distorts their reality. through their eyes, aliens are infected and steal from the citizens in the community, this results in the soldiers killing the infected people given the name roaches. One soldiers MASS glitches from a device made from the roaches. He then makes a discovery that after all the creatures he saw as monsters are just human. The military he works for is using the MASS to promote genocide. Utilitarianisms principles would categorize the scenario that takes place in the television show as plausible to make the genocide morally right, because it promoted happiness for the larger and powerful population of the community. While we know that genocide is morally wrong and cruel, in the position of utilitarianism, it would be seen as fitting. Another reason I am defending the objection of injustice is because it calls attention to problems pertaining to the violation of individuals religious and socioeconomic statuses as well as the rights appertaining to a person. I deny utilitarianism because it does not protect individuals against opinions of the majority. If the happiness of the people is increased enough, it can justify making one (or a few) miserable in service of the rest(psychology today.) Another component to take into account is that status of the person making the decisions. There could be a doctor who is known as a public figure who decides the fate of his/her patients. Suppose the doctor has to choose between five patients, and one has to have a heart transplant, two both need one lung each, one needs a liver, and the other a kidney. If a healthy candidate comes into the office the doctor could ponder to decide to inject him/her with a deadly solution, so they could contribute to the lives of the five unhealthy patients. He would consider this option because that is the option that would be viewed as doing the most good. In addition to that, because of the status and prestige of the person that can make the decision there would be no one to intervene with the deciding process. Utilitarianism can require that one commit unjust actions in certain situations, and because of this it is fundamentally flawed. We know that cruelty is wrong to do to an innocent person even if it can benefit others in the end.

A Rose For A Slave Girl By Harriett Jacobs Essay - 1260 Words

Jacobs, Harriet A., Lydia Maria Child, and Jean Fagan. Yellin. Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl: Written by Herself. Cambridge, MA: Harvard UP, 1987. Print. Incidents in the life of a slave girl, is the authors autobiography of slavery. This book by Harriett Jacobs tells her story through her eyes from the suffering of enslavement by a territorial master, failed attempts to escape, and preservation of her family. These events took place between 1813-1897 in North Carolina, where slaves were property and slave owners did what they wanted; when they wanted with their property. She explains her cruel treatment as an African American slave and how she used her sexuality to her advantage against her master. In reviewing this book, Jacobs failed to go into great detail about her intimate slave-master relationship. She pacified her enslavement, by presenting little to no information about the slaves’ hardships in depth. She was not as descriptive nor did the book highlight the main parts of slavery. Harriet Jacobs was born in North Carolina, along with her younger brother, William. Born as a slave, their mother and father died when she was young. Her grandmother raised the siblings and Jacobs worked for a mistress, Mrs. Margaret, where she was taught how to read and write. Mrs. Margaret was the little girls’ first mistress and she worked hard for her until she passed way when she was twelve years old. In hopes of being freed; Mrs. Margaret left her to Dr.Show MoreRelatedSlavery During The 19th Century1780 Words   |  8 Pagesin the 19th century. When most people hear the word slave, they picture an African American held in bondage by an English slave holder. While this may be an accurate description for many cases, a lot of different ethnic groups would paint a different picture. When the Spanish first came to America, they saw the natives as their tickets to the riches of the new world. As their greed for wealth and agricultural demand rose, the demand for slaves also began to increase. Although, as time began to revealRead MoreIroquois Confederacy9092 Words   |  37 Pagesin North Carolina, moved into the territory occupied by the Confederacy. They had rebelled against the encroachment of colonial settlers, against continual fraudulent treatment by traders, and against repeated raids that took their people for the slave trade. They suffered a terrible defeat, with hundreds of their people killed and hundreds more enslaved. Those who escaped such fates made their way north and became the sixth nation of the Iroquois Leag ue. The first half of the eighteenth century

Write a report analyzing the most recent financial aspects of

Essays on Write a report analyzing the most recent financial aspects of Pentair,INC Research Paper Financial Aspects of Pentair, Inc Financial Aspects of Pentair, Inc Ms. Cindy Baer President Topic: Ratio Analysis Report It isimportant to evaluate the performance of a company, both from a shareholders point-of-view and for business owners and managers as well. Financial ratio analysis is a handy tool when assessing a company’s performance as it helps analysts look beyond the obvious sales and production numbers. Of course, the results of ratio analysis are definitive authority on the performance of a company but true indicators of any hidden performance issues it may be facing. However, there are other uses for ratios as well. Their results are benchmarks for a company’s performance. Every future performance will be measured against these and other companies’ ratios. Ratio analysis also helps stakeholders who are not a direct part of the business, analyze and assess a firm’s profitability and creditworthiness. In order to conduct ratio analysis, the balance sheet and income statement provide the necessary figures and numbers. These financial statements are an integral part of the annual report by a company. In addition to the balance sheet and the income statement, there are also the statement of retained earning and cash flow statement. From these statements, the financial analyst must select the important information and interpret its analysis. This ratio analysis is important for an understanding of the company’s performance and condition. By examining Pentair Inc’s financial ratios, a clear picture of the company’s performance will emerge. Liquidity Analysis: 1. Current Ratio  = 2.1:1  ("Pentair inc" 2012) 2. Quick Ratio  = 1.1:1 ("Pentair inc" 2012) When compared to the rest of the industry, these ratios are quite small but overall, they predict that the performance of the company is satisfactory. The Current ratio is 2.1 that depicts that Pentair INC. has slightly overinvested in working capital. In addition, the quick ratio of 1.1 indicates the same. The quick ratio is less than current ratio indicating that the company may face cash flow problems in the future because of the tied up working capital. Both these figures are close to the industry average. Analyzing Profitability: 1. Return on Assets (ROA)  = 5.44% ("Pentair inc" 2012) 2. Return on Equity (ROE)  = 2.20% ("Pentair inc" 2012) 3. Return on Capital Employed (ROCE)= 3.30% ("Pentair inc" 2012) 4. Earnings per Common share  (EPS)  = $ 0.64 per share ("Pentair inc" 2012) ROCE indicates that more than $3 is earned for every dollar that is invested by the company. But in order to get the true picture we will have to compare this figure with the previous quarter’s ROCE. If ROCE has increased in the current quarter then the company has performed spectacularly by increasing sales without a proportionate increase in costs. Otherwise, there may be a problem with the control of costs. ROE is a ratio for shareholders, letting them how well their investment has performed. In the case of Pentair, the shareholders are getting 2.20% returns on their investment in the company, which is just a little less than industry average. EPS does not tell the actual income of the shareholder but rather indicates the shareholders share in the profit. It is an important measure of a company’s performance but is heavily affected by both right and bonus share issues. Therefore, these must also be taken into account. Analyzing Productivity: The productivity ratios help figure out how well the firm’s assets are being managed.  Ã‚   1. Inventory Turnover  = 5.5:1  Ã‚  ("Pentair inc" 2012) 2. Total Assets Turnover  = 0.8:1 ("Pentair inc" 2012) 3. Accounts  Receivable Turnover  = 5.4:1("Pentair inc" 2012) An inventory turnover ratio of 5.5: 1 shows that the firm manages to turnover or completely sells its inventory 5.5 times. The firm seems to be in line with the industry average by minimizing investment in its inventory. For every dollar invested in its assets, Pentair is generating 0.8 times the sales. Although this is quite low ratio indicating that, the company might by performing badly. However, studying the industry practices it becomes clear that the company is operating on the industry standards.  Ã‚   Pentair is quite effective at collecting debts and extending credit to customers according to the accounts receivable turnover. Analyzing Debt: 1. Debt to Equity Ratio  = 66: 1("Pentair inc" 2012) 2. Debt to Assets Ratio =  55.1:1("Pentair inc" 2012) These ratios are indicators of a company’s reliance on debt for financing its assets. The rule of thumb here is that the lower the ratio, the safer a company is. On the other hand, if a company has no or very little debt, it may be missing opportunities for investment and growth. In the case of Pentair, it has financed more than 50% of its capital by using external debt. This might seem dangerous but the figure is quite close to industry average indicating that it is a necessity of the business Pentair is operating in. References Costales, S. B., Szurovy, G. (1993).  Guide to Understanding Financial Statements. McGraw. Keown, A. J. (2003).  Foundations of finance: The logic and practice of financial management. Upper Saddle River, N.J: Prentice Hall. Pentair inc (PNR: New York). (2012, April 05). Bloomberg Businessweek. Retrieved from: http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/financials/ratios.asp?ticker=PNR:US   Q4 and full year 2011 earnings release. (2012). Retrieved from: http://www.google.com/url?sa=trct=jq=esrc=ssource=webcd=13ved=0CF4QFjACOAourl=http%3A%2F%2Fphx.corporate-ir.net%2FExternal.File%3Fitem%3DUGFyZW50SUQ9MTI0NjUyfENoaWxkSUQ9LTF8VHlwZT0z%26t%3D1ei=y12oT9KpKon_4QSl5NmdCQusg=AFQjCNEcQVSz5l3M5Bht5-JWZUnOx-7AVQsig2=_mGmDCmpW8XNe3ERb43Tsw

Arts and Craft Essay Example For Students

Arts and Craft Essay Arts and Crafts Origins and key principles The Arts and Crafts movement visas a British and American aesthetic movement occurring in the last years of the 19th century and the early years of the 20th century. Inspired by the writings of John Risking and a romantic idealization of the craftsman taking pride in his personal handiwork, it was at its height between approximately 1880 and 1910. It was a reformist movement that in nuanced British and American architecture, decorative arts, cabinet making, crafts, and even the cottage garden designs Of William Robinson or Gertrude Jewell. Its best-known practitioners were William Morris. Charles Robert Achebe, T. J. Cobbled Sanderson, Walter Crane, Nelson Dawson, Phoebe Anna Tranquil, Herbert Tudor Backhand, Charles Rennin Mackintosh, Christopher Dresser, Edwin Lateens, Ernest Jimson, William Lethally, Edward Schroeder Prior, Frank Lloyd Wright, Gustavo Stickles, Charles Voyages, Christopher Whale and artists in the Pre-Raphael movement. In the United States, the terms American Craftsman, or Craftsman style are often used to denote the style of architecture, interior design, and decorative arts that prevailed between the dominant eras to Art Nouveau and Art Deco, or roughly the period from 1910 to 1925. The Arts and Crafts Movement began primarily as a search for authentic and meaningful styles for the 19th century and as a reaction to the eclectic revival of historic styles of the Victorian era and to soulless machine-made production aided by the Industrial Revolution. Considering the machine to be the root cause of all repetitive and mundane evils, some of the protagonists of this movement turned entirely away from the use of machines and towards handcraft, which tended to concentrate their productions in the hands.