Torchwood, Egoism, and Utilitarianism Essays -- Literary Analysis

Torchwood’s third season â€Å"Children of Earth,† contains many momentous events which question human rationality, having good sagacity, judgment, and equanimity. Throughout these events two ethical philosophies unravel. The first philosophy, egoism, actions with solely one’s interests in mind, plays a major role in the season. Ethical egoists believe that one should look out for no one else but themselves, and a theory of psychological egoism states that whatever the reasoning is behind an action, the action is always an individual’s self-interest. The inconceivable enthralling events in the season are due to the 456’s yearning for ten percent of the children population. However, their request is not based upon a life-supporting necessity, but merely an egotistical longing for a pleasurable â€Å"high† the children supply them with. The second philosophy, utilitarianism, is based on Jeremy Bentham’s principle of utility, actions whi ch amplify happiness and diminish pain for the majority of people, play an essential role. To restrain the heinous act from occurring, Jack sacrifices his own grandson, Steven, to spare the lives of the other children on Earth. The 456 are at fault for the outlandish children-related incidences around the world. The children stop in mid-action and recite exact words at the same time for five consecutive days. These events are linked to a previous abduction by the 456 in 1965. The only two people conscious of the previous abduction are immortal Captain Jack, who was there during the abduction, and the Home Office Permanent Secretary John Frobisher. For most of the first episodes, Torchwood members, Jack, Ianto, and Gwen, know nothing of the situation, but are able to communicate with an insider, Lois Habiba, ... ...uction to Ethics, 6th Edition. McGraw-Hill Higher Education/CourseSmart, 2008. 170. Online book. Rosenstand, Nina. The Moral of the Story: An Introduction to Ethics, 6th Edition. McGraw-Hill Higher Education/CourseSmart, 2008. 165. Online book. Rosenstand, Nina. â€Å"Individual Ethical Egoism.† The Moral of the Story: An Introduction to Ethics, 6th Edition. McGraw-Hill Higher Education/CourseSmart, 2008. 183. Web source. Rosenstand, Nina. The Moral of the Story: An Introduction to Ethics, 6th Edition. McGraw-Hil Higher Education/CourseSmart, 2008. 225. Online book. Rosenstand, Nina. The Moral of the Story: An Introduction to Ethics, 6th Edition. McGraw-Hill Higher Education/CourseSmart, 2008. 229. Web source. Rosenstand, Nina. The Moral of the Story: An Introduction to Ethics, 6th Edition. McGraw-Hill Higher Education/CourseSmart, 2008. 241. Online book.