Essay on The Utilitarian Education System - 1306 Words

Hard Times, written by Charles Dickens, was written during the early 1800’s- a time when utilitarian ideas were spreading throughout Europe. Utilitarianism is the doctrine that actions that benefit a majority and promote happiness are right. In the classroom, these ideas are taught through facts. This is similar to positivism, or the philosophy that metaphysical statements are meaningless because they cannot be proven correct through facts. Dickens openly expresses his dislike for the utilitarian education system in his book through the teachers, pupils, settings, effect on characters, and chapter titles. The book begins with Mr. Gradgrind’s words: ‘Now, what I want is facts.’ (1,1 p11) It is a statement so clear and so plain, and†¦show more content†¦The pupils of Gradgrind’s school are taught to follow a certain style of thinking. An ideal student is symbolized by Bitzer. One of Gradgrind’s obvious favorites, Bitzer recites any nece ssary facts and follows the utilitarian way of thinking, but is clearly robbed of his childhood. Dickens cleverly makes this apparent in Bitzer’s appearance. With an unnaturally white complexion and light colored hair and eyes, Bitzer looks as though he would ‘bleed white’ (1,2 p14) This image of a lifeless, unwholesome child is what Dickens believes will happen to the youth of the country if they continue to be educated in this way. In contrast, however, Sissy Jupe is dark haired, dark skinned, and seems to shine. Her sunny nature and her unselfish attitude is the change that Dickens wants to see. At school, Mr. M’Choakumchild asks Sissy what she thinks about a town that holds one million inhabitants if only twenty-five of them starved to death. To which Sissy replies, ‘it must be just as hard on those who starved, whether the others were a million, or a million million.’ (1, 4 p.64) This answer is the complete opposite of utilitarian thinkin g- this town benefits a large majority, but Sissy does not think it matters; suffering is still suffering. She is what Dickens wants students to be: emotional, caring, and youthful. Although she was ridiculed for an answer like this in class, she ends up better off later in the story. Because Sissy is never corrupted with the utilitarian ideas, sheShow MoreRelatedJohn Stewart Mill’s Idea of Utilitarianism – Does It Still Exist Today?1255 Words   |  6 Pagesutilitarianism he did not agree with, and really revolutionize the ways in which utilitarianism should be used. The period in which Stewart did his major writings during was the industrial revolution. This is important as it was Stewart’s hope that a utilitarian society would help society, as a whole, escape from the poverty that existed at this time. So what is this utilitarianism that is supposed to be able to help those in poverty? Stewart’s utilitarianism is often summed up by his idea of The GreatestRead MoreShould Gambling Be Legalized?1401 Words   |  6 Pageslottery as an education lottery. A system in which the proceeds will benefit the school systems. Using this measure of marketing, they were successful in their goals. Now in most states there exist a state sanctioned lottery of some kind. There exist large amounts of empirical evidence establishing the argument that lotteries assist in upward wealth redistribution and disproportionately affects low income individuals. Furthermore, there are audits that have shown that the education portion of lotteriesRead MoreA Consequentialist Action Is The Moral Worth Of An Act891 Words   |  4 Pages A consequentialist action is a utilitarian theory. The utilitarian theory is a choice between two acts that can maximize utility for the greatest amount of happiness for the greatest number of people. Utilitarianism is the moral worth of an act. Utilitarian takes the right proportion of utilities to promote happiness and prevent pain. Utilities is the expressed quality of happiness or satisfaction one gets from something (Mossier, 2013). Happiness comes in many levels of preference. HoweverRead MoreAnalysis Of George Orwell s 1984 843 Words   |  4 Pagesbook clearly gives us a warning about how a utilitarian government can control and monitor our everyday lives. The National slogan from the book â€Å"War is peace, freedom is slavery and ignorance is strength â€Å" introduce us about how the propaganda has produces fear to the people because there is no democracy in the system and the people have very little power over the government action. The main character in the bo ok â€Å" Winston â€Å", realizes that the whole system is wrong and he hated about how his lifeRead MoreHow Does Charles Dickens shows His Dislike for the Education System in Hard Times?1077 Words   |  5 PagesHow Does Charles Dickens Shows His Dislike for the Education System in Hard Times? Charles Dickens novel â€Å"Hard Times† is set during the Industrial Revolution and reflects life at that period of time. The novel reveals Dickens disapproval of the utilitarian education system, which involves teaching children nothing but facts. He shows his dislike through his language and tones the various settings of the main action and through spiraling character development. Dickens uses Mr. Gradgrind and MrRead MoreIndustrialization in Hard Times by Charles Dickens1626 Words   |  7 Pagestheme of fact versus fancy. Due to this theme, the novel ends with many characters realising that a person needs more than just fact in their life. The novel examines the utilitarian system through various characters such as Tom, who has been brought up in the utilitarian education system. Dickens exposes his own views on this system through Sissy Jupe, the uneducated daughter of a circus master, and the positive influence she has on the Gradgrind family. Thomas Gradgrind has a strong rationalist philosophyRead MoreGeorge Dickens s Hard Times1183 Words   |  5 Pagesconsequentialism, where only the result, not the intention dictates the morality of the action. Industries abused the system, transforming the society through education and economics into one of idealization, where people of varying status and sex had specific roles they must complete. Dickens suggests limiting a person to a singular task turns them into robots of efficiency only serving the system, effectively dehumanizing them. Dickens views the results as dehumanizing because of its emotional and creativeRead MoreDetermining Who Gets An Organ1120 Words   |  5 PagesDepartment of Health and Human Services, oversees this process. Organs are allocated according to strict rules that take into account physical matching, tissue and blood type matching, medical criteria, waiting time, severity of illness. The allocation system is blind to name, race, sex and wealth. Th e allocation rules have been developed over many years of deliberation by physicians and other transplant professionals, transplant candidates and recipients, donor families, and representatives of the federalRead MoreDickens and His Structure of Ha906 Words   |  4 Pagesuntil they are filled to the brim (Dickens 12). Gradgrinds methods of education are employed to show Dickens view on the evil of the educational system. Among the vessels are Bitzter and Sissy Jupe. They exemplify two entirely different ideas, serving Dickens for allegorical purposes. Bitzer, the model student of Gradgrinds school of facts, facts, facts becomes the very symbol of evil in the educational system that Dickens is trying to portray, as he learns to take care for numberRead MoreWelfare Has Been At The Forefront Of Debate988 Words   |  4 Pagesto receive the least in benefits. Instead a system designed to help people in need should be expunged with the burden to be transferred to their families. Throughout the essay, it was clearly one-sided with no good moral principles outlined. The prevalence of arguments rejecting welfare based on the small percentage of ‘dole bludgers,’ who mis-use the system is invalid. Based on these false pretences, the normative conclusion was that the welfare system should be abolished. The purpose of this reflection