Wednesday, September 28, 2011

The Utilitarian View of My Cost Benefit

The voki asked me to answer the following questions:
1. What would the utilitarianist say about my cost-benefit analysis about school? Does it bring more pain or pleasure for me to go to school?
The utilitrian would question if school would give more pain or pleasure when going to school from K through 12. At first the utilitrian would want to see if he or she can make a cost of the intangible objects or things. Then the utilitarian would see if there is more pain or pleasure in going to school. At first he/she might see the pain in the short run, but in the long term overview, school gives a lot of pleasure to life. It gives friends, money, and more possibilites in life. The utilitrian would like school for the future. 
2. What would be an objection that the utilitarianist have about placing a $ value on everything?
I think that the only objection to the utilitrianist would be setting a $ value on everything. A point of view from one utilitrian could be different from another. At the same time, putting a value on everything is what some utilitrians do. He/she would give many reasons to why putting a $ value on this would give a more wholesome view over the pain-pleasure and cost-benefit point of views. 

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Cost-Benefit Analysis K-12

Costs:
tangible: transportation (school bus or own car), tuition fee, tutor fee, after school activities, SALT trip, senior trip, sports trips (tournaments), SAT and PSAT, school supplies, food coupons
intangible: learning information, stress, eating disorders (for some), sleeping problems, depression, and stress factor

Benefits:
tangible: larger income, good jobs, international study possibilities, practical knowledge of every day life (home economics, computers, and speech), and more possessions to get a free will (new car, xbox, etc)
intangible:  international awareness, vast knowledge range, acceptance of the world and its people, understanding of the world's natural process, friendship, possible happiness

Thursday, September 15, 2011

In the Face of Death

After taking the quiz, I noticed that I am inconsistent when it comes to my opinion of murder. I thought that I was a pacifist, but apparently I find murder right in certain cases. I found out that in Scenario 3, I would rather kill another man, than risk harming my friend's and my own lives. I don't find this result accurate, as I find murder wrong in all cases, according to my own morality. I would have to think about the matter a lot before I do anything to harm myself or someone else. So for me, murder is always wrong.

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Think of Another Image or Example of an "Incomplete Thought".

Living on in one country for one's entire life is an example, of a so called "incomplete thought" that could hide the whole truth from us. This is a great example in many ways. This person, who has only lived in this one country, might only understand the concepts and thoughts of a certain people or society. This person might not understand wars that are raging on in neighboring countries, or how another culture and way of life would work. When I moved back to Sweden in 2007, there were a lot of prejudice of how I lived in Thailand. They thought that I lived in a straw house with no toilet. The people didn't really where clothes like we do in "the western world" and a word like cement or road was a myth. This shows their ignorance for knowledge. They have never learned that we in Thailand might actually be more technological than they are in Sweden. In Thailand we have lots of cement buildings that roar over 300 meters high. In Sweden the highest building is a church that was built 200 years ago, and might stand around 100 meters high. People who believe these things really do have an "an incomplete thought". Another example of incomplete knowledge due to a country barrier could be people living in Ethiopia. They might be really poor and starving to death, and the word of education is just something that never will happen in their lives. These people haven't chosen their "incomplete thought", they were born into it. The Ethiopians might never have seen a white or yellow person before in their lives. Their knowledge has been hidden away from them from the government who might not have the money to give education or experiences like travelling. There are many people and countries who have "incomplete knowledge" due to country boundaries.