Philosophy 1301 - Mill on Ultimatums

Philosophy 1301

Mill on Ultimatums

The question provided is an excellent example of common dilemmas one

encounters in life in dealings with other people. The situation this single mother

faces seems to be a classic "catch 22" or "double-edged sword"; her parents

style of fashismo rational have given her a sort of ultimatum based on a

single class. Considering the challenges this woman faces in society and her

own personal life, this type of ultimatum seems like pseudo

help or a setting

for failure by her parents. Through such a ridiculous ultimatum, her parents

have not only condemed her, but her defenseless child as well. Cheating in

my opinion is not ethical; considering the situation she faces it may be a means

to a end. The irrationality of her situation may or may not have been of her

choosing in the scheme of life.

Aristotle would probably come to the conclusion that end goal would justify

the methods to reach telos and eudemonia. although cheating is unethical,

something one with a conscience would never really feel good about, in the

end, the one that would most likely suffer the most is her child. If she was

childless, the suffering could be bearable in knowing her choice not to cheat,

only she would face the outcome of her decision, but this is not the case.

Aristotle would state that the ultimate goal or "Highest Good" would be the

quality of life and safety of her child. The mean between her cheating and

ensuring the well-being of her child would be on Aristotle's mind, be the

the condition between excess and deficiency in my opinion. Maybe through

this unfortunate circumstance, she may later on realize the middle ground

she had taken and have realization of the situation and possibly reach

eudemonia in her life.

In Utilitarianism by John Stuart Mill, his philosophy relies on the "greatest

happiness principal". This means that one should always act in such a way

as to produce the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people. Mill

also relates utility to people as progressive beings as we try to reach a

"higher mode of existence". In relation to the situation of the single mother,

I believe that Mill,