Using utilitarianism on the writing sample?

[zogoto]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

Is it safe to use utilitarianism as the "dividing line" on the writing sample between when to apply the given statement and when to not? I find that it works almost 100% of the time that there is a statement with the word "should" or "must." Also, it gives me some extra substance because through years of high school debate, I thought of dozens of reasons why utilitarianism is a good value, why society is inherently utilitarian, etc., so when I use it as a dividing line, my third paragraph sounds good because I have fancy reasons why the statement begs the use of utilitarianism.

Anyway, does anyone else do this? Is it a good idea?

 

[SN2ed]

If it works for you and fits the essay, I don't see any problem with it. The topics you want to avoid are usually the more inflammatory ones such as abortion, politics, religion, etc.

 

[zogoto]

I guess it could be contoversial because some people believe utilitarianism is a really bad way to go because it basically says it's ok to kill 1 person to harvest their organs and save 5. Are the graders likely to take it to something like that?

 

[itsover26]

what's wrong with a controversial response? controversy sparks debate. isn't that the point of writing? i do know they try to avoid controversial topics, but that doesn't mean you cannot respond controversially to the prompt yourself. I don't know...the WS doesn't matter anyway. i don't understand it or the grading. you write terrible essays and get 90+ percentile. that's how my first MCAT was. i feel i wrote better essays this past week on my retake, but i won't be surprised if i get a worse grade than before haha

 

[smeagol]

Yea, it's fine.

It's a principle that people invoke all of the time.

But try to find ways to make it not sound awkward. For instance, do not say, "according to utilitarianism, blah blah blah." If you were to say that, the reader may expect for some defense for this principle you are using.

But instead try something like, "this course of action is most useful" or "provides the greatest utility."

The latter statement doesn't have that implication where utility ought to be viewed as the principal guideline for making decisions.

 

[Marcus Brody]

Mention it but if you go into it too much I think your essay becomes more biased and opinionated.

 

[StayingSteady]

I think utilitarianism would be alright, but you're going to really have to spell out your position so that it's clear what you're trying to say. On that note, it might be a little more complicated than what the graders would care to read. I'm biased though; I'm just using the Kaplan method and Kaplan mentality that the readers aren't really expecting too much of you in 30 min.