The Case For Cannibalism Case Study

Episode 1 Part 2 The Case for Cannibalism
By the end of listening 1 – you should be able to do the following –
1. Explain clearly in your own words what is “Consequentialist Moral Reasoning”?

Consequentialist moral reasoning is the idea that consequences of actions and conduct are the absolute basis for the understanding of what we classify as right or wrong on that particular act or conduct. Essentially, this boils down to the ends justifying the means. Consequentialism can also be summed up into the idea that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction whether that be good or bad.

2. Explain clearly in your own words what is “Categorical Moral Reasoning”?

Categorical Moral Reasoning is the idea that essentially some actions are innately placed in a wrong or write category no matter the imperative or outcome. Categorical moral reasoning essentially divides actions into categories and classifies what imperatives are right and wrong. A categorical imperative denotes an absolute, unconditional requirement that claims a nonnegotiable both required and justified as an end in itself.

3. Explain the significance of Jeremy Bentham.

Bentham gave the first idea of Utilitarianism or rather he captured the idea perfectly. Bentham asserted that humans thrive off of two ideas: (1) the love of happiness and (2) the despising of pain. Bentham stated once, “Nature has placed mankind under the governance of two sovereign masters, pain and pleasure. It is for them alone to point out what we ought to do, as well as to determine what we shall do. On the one hand the standard of right and wrong, on the other the chain of causes and effects, are fastened to their throne. They govern us in all we do, in all we say, in all we think.....

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...For the Greatest Number” in several ways. One such way is that they were in a situation that appeared to be life or death and one of them had to die in orders that the others live? This is at the heart of that slogan because this slogan asserts that sacrificing for the majority to have the highest utility should be the ultimate goal. Another such way this connects to this philosophy is the idea that because of his weakened state (Parker that is) the ends, survival of the able crewmembers, justified the means, which was cannibalism. This again corroborates the idea of doing what is best for the group. They saw the potential opportunity for food in the weaker individual (who appeared to be dying) and sought to increase their utility. These two ways are some of the ways that this connects to the idea of “the greatest good for the greatest number” proposed by Bentham.