Utilitarian Ethics and Liberty Discussion Queries

Please read the attached scanned chapters in order to answer the questions. 200 words minimum for each question ( about a half a page per question, single spaced)

Question #1

This is a deceptively simple question, so really give it some thought: what do Utilitarians mean by the “Greatest Good for the Greatest Number?” Try breaking this down in (at least) three ways: how do we measure the “Greatest Good,” how do we calculate the “Greatest Number” and how are we meant to balance the two?

Question #2

Take a look at the U.S. Bill of Rights – you can easily google it, so pick your source….wikipedia even should be fine. Now, consider the following Amendments: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8. Given Blackburn’s discussion of “Freedom from the Bad,” how would you apply the concept of positive rights/liberty vs negative rights/liberty to each of these amendments? Or, put another way: starting with the first amendment, and then going through the list, does each amendment establish a “negative” or “positive” right for Americans?