PHIL 2030Milestone 3 Intro to Ethics.

Emma isn’t sure how she’s going to continue providing for her family. In a moment of desperation, she steals a bag of groceries from the store. Many people would say that stealing is wrong. How might this action be evaluated by a utilitarian?  Emma’s action is morally wrong because the food she steals may not be enough to feed her family for more than a couple days.  Emma’s action is morally right because the overall happiness it brings her family is greater than the decrease in happiness it brings the store.  Emma’s action is morally right because Emma has an obligation to feed her family, even if it results in multiple employees getting laid off.  Emma’s action is morally wrong because stealing is wrong, no matter how desperately she needs the food. CONCEPT Applying Utilitarianism 2 Claire is helping her elderly neighbor, Ms. Flannigan, with some yard work. Ms. Flannigan has no close family and tells Claire that she is beginning to wonder who will get the small bundles of cash she has hidden throughout her large house. Ms. Flannigan even remarks that she cannot remember where she has hidden them all. After helping Ms. Flannigan, Claire goes inside to freshen up. In the bathroom she notices a large wad of cash tucked inside the medicine cabinet. Which action is supported by utilitarianism but intuitively seems unethical?