Explain what Mill means by this claim and give two examples, one of a person doing something wrong according to your opinion, and one of a person doing something right or acceptable according to your opinion, which agree with this principle.

Your essay must be between 4 and 7pages long, double-spaced (except the gap between paragraphs) in a 12-point font. Essays shorter than 4 pages lose points in accordance with the percentage of the paper missing. E.g. A three page paper is 25% too short so it receives 0 for 25% of its grade. If your essay is short then it is unlikely to pass.

Crucial Advice:all essays must utilize the relevant assigned readings. Essays that make no mention of our readings will lose points and likely fail. You MUST prove you have done your readings: do this by using page number and quotes from text (always explain the quotes in your own words after quoting…)

Crucial advice #2:if you don’t believe a conclusion then you must reject the argument for the conclusion. You cannot ignore the argument and just attack the conclusion. People believe things for a reason: it is those reasons you must discuss, reject or support with more reasons. Rejecting the conclusion without addressing the reasons for the conclusion will lose you points! (And it means you’re not listening to the person.)

Advice #3: Structure your essay for clarity of thought; it will have 6 sections at least. (a) first page will have an introduction, (b) thesis statement and (c) brief essay plan and (d) the paper will have sectionse.g. “Norcross responds…” or “Criticisms of Singer’s argument”. Important:Be sure to keep sections for explaining a person’s ideas separate from sections where you criticize their ideas! You must have a brief conclusion reiterating your thesis.

Advice #4 All quotes must be explained in your own words.

According to Mill:

“actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness.”

(i)Explain what Mill means by this claim and give two examples, one of a person doing something wrong according to your opinion, and one of a person doing something right or acceptable according to your opinion, which agree with this principle.

(ii)Be sure to explain what Mill thinks happiness is and isn’t and give examples. (see essay on Hedonism)

(iii)Is happiness our only goal? Are there other goals? Like money? Virtue? Knowledge? Love? Fame? What does or would Mill say about these?

(iv)Kant: What is Kant’s first and second categorical imperatives? Give examples of each and explain both as much as possible.

(v) Imagine that the only way to save one hundred thousand people from dying is to kill one 8 year old child. (Make up a story where this is a fact) Would Kant agree that it is morally acceptable to kill the child? Would Mill? Do you? Explain.

(vi)Try to adjudicate: which theory seems better, Kant or Mill’s, if any? Do not forget to tell us what is the acceptable thing to do regarding the 8 year old child!