Paper 1: Topics

Consider the following case:

Lying promise: You want to give to a charitable organization to help desperately poor families, but you dont have very much money. However, you know that you could obtain some money by asking your rich roommate for it and promising to pay it back. (It is 2021, and people again have roommates.) You also know that you will not be able to pay it back, so that you would be making a lying promise to your roommate. Suppose, too, that making the lying promise is the only way for you to get the money that is consistent with your fulfilling your financial obligations. Finally, lets assume that you know that the suffering of 10 people could be relieved if you were to steal the money.

Question: Should you make this lying promise to your roommate? Why or why not?

Please write a paper, of about two pages in length, on only one of the following topics.

Topic 1: Mills Utilitarianism

According to John Stuart Mills utilitarianism, are you morally required to make a lying promise to your roommate in this situation?

Sub-questions to address in the course of your paper:

(1) What makes actions right or wrong, according to Mills utilitarianism?
(2) Would making the lying promise to your roommate be right or wrong, on Mills view?  Why?
(3) Does Mills view, as you understand it, give us the correct answer on this case? Why or why not?
(4) Is there anythinglike lyingthat we must never do, no matter the consequences?