5-2: Pleasure and Pain Forum
Discuss how utilitarians balance pleasure and pain. Using both Rachels’ work and the article on pleasure, determine whether all pleasures and suffering are equally weighted, or some pleasures and sufferings weigh more than others.
Note: In this discussion forum, you will not be able to see the posts of other students until you have made a post of your own.
In each discussion forum, the object is to increase understanding of many different ethical views. Keep in mind the Principle of Charity. We have a responsibility to be open to new ideas about ethics here, just as you each have a responsibility to be open to your patients’ views. This openness includes the new theories introduced each week and the participants’ views expressed in the forum. Seek to understand a view or concept before criticizing it. If your understanding is incomplete, ask respectful questions targeted at the ideas, and not the person expressing them. Answer questions honestly and with respect. We also have a responsibility to express our own views in such a way that invites discussion. Avoid stereotypes and labelling groups or people, discussing ideas respectfully without use of irrelevant information about the arguer. Avoidance of the ad hominem fallacy is crucial to ethical discussion. This does not mean that disagreement is off limits! Disagreements are best made with support and respectful discourse and questioning. Going back to your own Initial Post (IP) and addressing questions is a great way to show respect for others who have asked questions in their Response post (RP) to your IP.
Three posts are required each week.
Two Response Posts (RP).
Responses will be graded for content, length, and level of introspection.
Click Start a New Conversation to post your primary response. Read each of the other student posts and Reply to at least two. Initial posts are due by 11:55 PM ET on Thursday of this week; replies are due by 11:55 PM ET Sunday of this week. See the Discussion Forum Rubric in the Course Lounge for specific grading criteria. All direct quotations and other sources used in your forum posts must be credited using APA Style®.
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