Robert Taylor

Spring 2016

Philosophy 1000 Group Paper

1. Do we have any ethical duties regarding what we do with our money? For
instance, Peter Singer says that we have an ethical duty to give away any money
that we earn that is not spent on meeting our basic needs of food and shelter to
those who cannot afford to pay for their basic needs. Do you agree? Why or why
not?
Robbie: I dont feel like we have an ethical duty to give our money to those who cannot
afford to pay their basic needs. I work hard for my money and my ability to pay for my
needs, I contribute to assisting those who cannot afford some of those things by paying
my taxes. I feel like thats enough of a contribution.
Dan: Personally, I do not agree with Peter Singer's philosophy because the extra money Ive
saved is money I worked hard for. This extra money is simply a reward for my hard work. I dont
believe happiness is obtained through money but I think having hobbies and attending events can
contribute to living happier and money is required to do these things. I believe people should
solve their own problems and that hard work alone will alleviate poverty.
Brynne: I definitely understand where Peter Singer is coming from and the point that he is trying
to make: If we have met our basic needs and have excess money, we have an obligation to help
those less fortunate. Would missing out on those expensive new shoes really be so bad if you
knew that your money was going toward a worthy cause?

That being said, I dont completely agree with Singer. I worked hard to earn my paycheck
and if all I ever see from it is enough to cover basic living, what reason do I have to do more than
the bare minimum? Why should I care about people that I dont know? I dont want to pay for
their bad decisions. I feel that donating all leftover money would create a dependency on those
who are getting it, and this would have a negative effect on the economy, the job market, and
society.
I believe that people should be responsible for themselves and held accountable for their
own actions; if theyre poverty is a consequence of their own choices such as drugs, laziness, or
living beyond their means, financial aid is not a long-term fix. I do feel strongly that we should
help to ease suffering, but money is such an impersonal way to do it. I would rather help out by
donating my time and skills, and that would be much more rewarding in the end.
Austin- I don't agree with peter at all. I don't think you should be required to donate your
money at all. You shouldn't feel obligated to help someone unless you feel in your heart that you
want to. People work hard for their money and should be able to use it how they feel.
2. Is it unethical to eat meat? Do we have an ethical duty to be a vegetarian? Why
or why not? Is it unethical to eat any type of food? Why or why not?
Robbie: I think that our ethical responsibility is not to what we do or dont eat but more
related to how that food is treated or created. Cows are half wasted when they are
raised just to be slaughtered. There has to be a more natural way to grow plants or
raise animals while keeping the same efficiency we have come to have when it comes
to our food.
Dan: I believe that it is unethical to eat meat from companies that abuse animals in factory
farms. Anyone with a pulse can see that this model is corrupt and destructive. If you treat

animals with respect and provide them with a good life I believe we can provide a mutually
beneficial relationship. Meat is murder is the main argument for many vegetarians but I believe
anything that we eat that is harmful to our environment is considered unethical.
Brynne: I doubt that I could ever be fully vegetarian, but I dont especially like meat
anymore, and I wont go out of my way to eat it. I am however very selective about the
meat and animal products I do consume. I buy free-range, sustainably farmed, and
ethically sourced food as often as possible. Not only is this better for our health, it is
better for animals and the environment. I dont believe my life is more important than
that of any creature. Who am I to have such a negative impact on them and their
habitat?
Austin- I think its okay to eat meat as long as it is in a humane way. I think we should be
able to know where our meat comes from and that it was properly treated. Also I believe
we should eat it sparingly and only kill things that we are going to eat. We should never
kill something unless it's for a meaningful purpose.
3. What is truth? How do we know if we have arrived at truth? Are the skeptics
correct that we cannot ever have knowledge of the truth? Is truth relative? Why or
why not?
Robbie: I feel like truth is a very subjective idea. I can believe in something as profound
as say, the age of the earth, yet there can be an entirely different group of people with a
startlingly different belief, but it would still be their truth. And from that standpoint I
would honestly doubt that knowledge of an absolute truth would be impossible.
Dan: Truth to me is being in accordance with reality. Truth is something we naturally
comprehend and can help understand what is real. Truth is different for everyone. I believe you

have arrived at the truth when you can understand it clearly and distinctly. I believe that the
sceptics are correct that we cannot have knowledge of the truth because truth is subjective.
Brynne: I think that, to an extent, truth is always changing and evolving. Certain things are
measurable or verifiable, like the temperature or the mass of an object, while other truths
depend on context and your individual point of view. I am a skeptic by nature. Every answer can
lead to more and more questions. At some point we have to look at the information we have and
decide whether it adds up to a reasonable conclusion, while at the same time leaving it open to
adjust for new findings and experiences. Otherwise wed never be able to make a decision or
move on with our lives.
Austin- You will never know or understand the full truth. Everyone is brought up differently so
they will have different views and opinions about things. They will have their own visions of
what truth really is so we will never have a full understanding of what truth really is.
4. How is good behavior vs. bad behavior determined? Do the consequences of
ones actions define whether an action is good or bad, or is it the motivations or
intentions of the actor that matters? What matters most- the action, the intentions
behind our actions, or both?
Robbie: I feel like good or bad behavior would mostly be determined by the
consequences. You can do that wrong thing for the right reasons and it can be a good
behavior. What if you kill someone in self-defense? Yes, the killing was a bad behavior,
but even the courts would generally consider that the correct action. I feel like the
actions and intentions are both important, and which is more important is a case to case
difference.

Dan: Behavior is good or bad determined by the by the perception of whoever is individually
judging the behavior, therefore good or bad is subjective. I believe that the intentions of the act is
what matters the most. For example, if you kill a random person and it turns out they are a mass
murder, you are not a hero. Your intention was to take the life of an innocent person and that still
defines the action as bad.
Brynne: Good versus bad behavior is often defined by how it affects people. There are
always two sides to every action: cause and effect. Say youre standing up to a person
who is being mean to someone you care about. You feel good, your friend feels good,
but the bully is probably insulted or threatened. My personal feelings on actions that if
you are causing harm or having a negative effect, it is bad. As for intent, even if it is to
spare someones feelings or otherwise save them from grief, having to lie or cover up
your actions is bad. Selfish motivations should not outweigh the greater good. Both
action and intent are important.
Austin- I believe behavior is a personal view if its good or bad. Someone who is brought
up differently will think different things are okay to do while one person may view them
as bad. Its all a personal opinion about whether its acceptable or not.
5. If we do the right action for the wrong reason, is it less moral? (i.e. giving
money to charity in order to cut my tax bill)
Robbie: No. I know Brynne disagrees with me here, but the right action is the right
action. I do not think morals would play a large amount into that decision. In the
example of giving money to charity in order to cut my tax bill, the charity 99 times out of
100 does not care why you are donating, just that you are donating. So that makes it a
good action for both parties in that example.

Dan: If the consequence of my action was good, then my action was good but the fact that I had
the wrong reasons has consequences of its own. I believe that doing the right action for the
wrong reason will make me more likely to do things in the future that have less pleasant
outcomes. I believe doing these kinds of actions are not purely good, making it less moral.
Brynne: Yes. I am not arguing that it is completely immoral, just that it is less moral. You
are not performing the action out of the desire to do good, but because you will benefit.
Despite the fact that the charity will be grateful either way, would you still donate if it did
nothing for you?
Austin- I believe that it can be good and bad. If were helping someone in need just to
cut a tax bill then at least we are still helping that person. But if thats the only reason we
want to help that person I think it is pretty selfish, only looking out for yourself. I agree
with both sides of this argument.
6. Are bad actions that are completed with good intent less moral? (i.e. stealing
food to help the poor)
Robbie: Depends on that action, for the example I used above with the self-defense,
absolutely. But I dont know if stealing food for someone is, I would think trying to help
them how to take care of themselves would be better for them than stealing for them.
Dan: Whether it's a good or bad outcome, you must live with the truth of your intention. If the
outcome of my situation was good, then I got lucky. People didnt catch me, but I caught myself.
I believe that it is less moral because even though it would cause good because later on I would
start to feel guilty about the bad action I committed.
Brynne: It depends on the severity of the crime. Stealing to feed a starving child is
admirable, because they probably wouldnt be able to eat otherwise. I suppose it might

actually feel good acting as a sort of Robin Hood. Stealing from a thief, monopoly, or
massive corporation does not feel as bad to me as taking from an honest, upstanding
person. Ideally, you could afford to buy the food to give them instead of having to steal
at all. There are certain lines that I would never cross: I could never be alright with
intentionally killing, maiming, emotionally harming another living thing. This does not
apply to fishing, hunting, or foraging for food and resources that I will be mindfully using.
Austin- I agree I believe it depends on the crime and what the intentions are for. For
example if you were stealing from a wicked leader who was stealing things from you
anyways and you were stealing to help your family survive I believe that is just justice
and fair. So if youre doing something that is acceptable to save lives I believe its okay.
7. What does living the good life consist of?
Robbie: Basically, dont be a tool. Do what makes you happy while also contributing to
the good of the whole society. I honestly do not feel like money should be involved in
finding the good life, rather it should be a life of making others lives better alongside
with your own.
Dan: The good life in my opinion consists of a series of endless satisfaction that grows more
powerful as life goes on. Having a good life means having meaningful productivity, meaningful
relationships, good mental health and spiritual awareness. The good life has nothing to do with
drug induced sensations or material possessions.
Brynne: Not getting caught up in monotonous cycle of society and feeling the need to adhere to
the standards of others. Live your life in a way that you are content and proud of, putting your
effort toward things that you enjoy and love. Being productive and contributing. Striving for

personal growth and meaningful connection, maintaining a balance and harmony with the world
around you.
Austin- Living the good life is all about the friendships and relationships that you have.
Materialistic things don't really matter and wont help you to obtain happiness. By being
unselfish and looking out and serving others will help you to find true happiness. But you will
always be on the search to live the good life. It will be a constant battle.
8. What are the qualities of the superior individual?
Robbie: I think a superior individual would be a selfless person. They would go out of
their way to help someone elses life long before their own, would be a patient and calm
person who would help people understand why they should or should not do a thing.
Dan: A superior individual is someone that can achieve success and happiness through
continuously improving themselves rather than being noticed and constantly creating more
purpose in their life. As well as having good morals, ethics, direction, openness and selfsufficiency.
Brynne: I agree with both Dan and Robbie. Being selfless is great, but you must also take time to
focus on yourself and what you need. I would also add that a superior person should be wellrounded, possess patience, empathy, compassion, open-mindedness, a thirst for knowledge,
willingness to change and adapt, and a sense of wonder at the workings of life and the universe.
Austin- I agree by helping others makes you an exceptional person. But being an exceptional
person will need you to focus and take time on how you can help improve your life.
9. To what extent, if any, does happiness relate to living the good/moral life? What
is happiness?

Robbie: I feel like they are very related. Have you ever seen someone who lives my
idea of a good life, where they help other people selflessly, unhappy? Happiness is
impossible. I feel like you cant reach happiness because that would breed content, and
then you would slide out of happiness.
Dan: Happiness to me is a rush that builds up with intense suspense after doing an activity I
enjoy, achieving a goal or breaking a personal record. I believe achieving happiness has a huge
part in living the good life. Happiness results in more optimism, creativity and motivation. It
also helps with staying healthy, worrying less about making mistakes and contributes to making
better life decisions.
Brynne: I think that happiness is an unattainable goal that everyone is taught to
tirelessly strive for. Happiness is not a destination that you can arrive at if you just follow
a prescribed course. It is also not a constant, but an extreme opposite that of despair.
Our lives are punctuated by brief moments of each, and we need them both, but they
are not the meaning of life. Rather, I work toward contentment and the good life I
described above.
Austin- similar to what I said about the good life is happiness is an endless battle. You
will constantly be trying to improve your life, but by not just focusing on yourself will help
you to have a greater peace and help with your happiness. Helping others is what
happiness is all about.
10. To what extent, if any, does ones duties to society/other people relate to living
the morally good life?
Robbie: I again think that they are very related, because a person's social duties should
always be to leave that society better than it was before them, and if you can leave a

society feeling that way then you must have done some things relatively selflessly, and
that would lead you into a morally good life.
Dan: The good life consists of the legacy you decide to leave behind as a result of the mark you
made on the world around you.
Brynne: I think that they go hand-in-hand. We do have an obligation to have a positive
effect on others and the world we live in, that will hopefully be remembered and
continue after we are gone. There is a sense of fulfillment when you make a right choice
or do something good. My thoughts are that it is all about balance.
Austin- Having good balance of life and a goal to live a purposeful life and to do good
for others and this world will be a prime example of a morally good life.