PHIL 329 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Blood Transfusion, Harm Principle, On Liberty

• School: University of Calgary
• Department: Philosophy
• Course: PHIL 329
• Professor: Yoshiki Kobasigawa

Document Summary

There is another problem with utilitarianism: it is silent on morally permissible actions. Example 1: violinist case - thomson (permissible acts) You are the only blood match for this violinist. If you are hooked up to this violinist to filter her blood for 9. 5 months, that violinist would survive, otherwise she would die. You are kidnapped and hooked up to the violinist in order to save her life. You can decide whether to save her or unplug yourself. Nh staying connected = [happy experience of the violinist] - [your suffering for 9. 5 months] larger positive value. In this case, both acts are permissible (it would be nice of you to stay hooked up to save someone"s life but 9 and a half months is a lot to ask for). The music society are not morally justified to keep you in that position if you do not consent to being in that position any longer.