Examples Of Utilitarianism

Utilitarianism, in the contrary, is based on the principle of utility or usefulness. Utility is what encourages an agent to act in a particular way (Tuckett, 1998). Utility can be explained as maximizing the good like pleasure and happiness and minimizing the bad like pain and evil, all leading to the greater good for all parties involved. It weights the consequences of the actions equally between the ones involved, and the ethical solution would be to follow the greater good for most if not all the parties involved.

153). In essence, utilitarianism is maximizing everyone’s happiness, which can almost be considered a universal acceptance (Boylan, 2009, p. 154). Jeremy Bentham is one of the proponents of modern utilitarianism and states, “nature has placed mankind under the governance of two sovereign masters, pain and pleasure” (Boylan, 2009, p. 154). In business utilitarianism shares the nonmoral views that the best decision that had no moral conflict would be to maximize profit, which would be the greatest good of the company and its employees (Boylan, 2009, p. 162). Utilitarianism does not always hold true in some minds. Utilitarianism does not take into account motives of the people (Boylan, 2009, p. 165). “If one acts in accord with the general principle and its corollaries, then one is moral” (Boylan, 2009, p. 165).

The morality of euthanasia from an extreme utilitarian perspective means acting on what’s best for the vast majority based on one’s particular actions. The morality of euthanasia is determining what is considered to be wrong and right in the eyes of someone with a utilitarian perspective.

Correct! Utilitarianism is based on the principle of maximizing happiness (or any other measure of utility) for the greatest number of people, as well as minimizing unhappiness for the greatest number. The means of achieving this outcome is not as much of an issue as the actual outcome for the

Utilitarianism poses an issue when it is used as the sole method for decision making. I do not agree with it at all. There is no way to truly calculate or measure the outcome of a situation. It involves setting aside your values to make a decision based on what will

I have always been one to side with a utilitarian’s point of view, such as Mill and Bentham. The greatest happiness of the greatest number, or as cold as it may be, sacrificing the few for the good of the many. Utilitarian moral theories evaluate the moral worth of action on the basis of happiness that is produced by an action. Whatever produces the most happiness in the most people is the moral course of action. I will give the best arguments against Utilitarianism, and show in my own opinion, why I think they are wrong.

Journal #11 Ethical Frameworks Directions: In your journal, define the following positions, outline criticisms/ counterclaims, and then evaluate from your perspective. Moral Relativism: Diversity Argument: It wasn’t long ago that people really started becoming aware of the essence of moral diversity. It was discovered that affiliates of different cultures very often have completely different beliefs about what is considered wrong and what is considered right and usually act according to their beliefs.

The Active Utilitarian approach is the best philosophy of thought for justifying punishment. Active Utilitarianism’s view of punishment revolves around the idea of what brings about the best consequences or the most net good. General rules of punishment are short cuts for decisions. The Active Utilitarian does his/her best to produce the most benefit from punishment for the most people and is not constrained by rules. Active Utilitarianism can lead to ideas such as pre punishment or vicarious punishment but those ideas would be rare because of the Utilitarian’s need to produce the most good. Active Utilitarianism is the best approach and its potential flaws can be countered.

Utilitarianism: For and Against Utilitarianism is a moral theory that is centered around the concept of happiness. Although there are many varieties of the theory, utilitarianism is generally thought to be the view that the morally right action is the action that produces the most good. Happiness is considered to be an act that people seek, and an ultimate goal for human beings. Classical utilitarianism focuses on the concept of happiness and actions, as well as their consequences that impact others, not just an individual. English philosophers Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill have two different approaches to utilitarianism.

Act utilitarianism is an action that is morally required just because it does more to improve overall well-being than any other action you could have done in the circumstances. The principle of utility states that you should always perform the action that maximizes overall utility. Act utilitarianism and the principle of utility is a large portion of what I am going to refer to in this essay. The moral worth of any action is determined by outcome or consequences which explains why utilitarianism is a version of consequentialism. Utilitarianism is a form of teleological ethics.

I found that the idea of utilitarianism was quite interesting. I did not agree with Mills when he stated that actions that are right promote happiness, while actions that are wrong result in the reverse of happiness. I did agree with is that ones goal in life is to pursue happiness. While Mill brought up God in his agree it also made sense that the idea of utilitarianism is a religious and non-religious thing. Mills also brought up when people do actions that benefit others and the greater good instead of themselves. However, I did not agree to them idea that people are too prideful and are not willing to compromise happiness in order for the greater good. An example of this was when the Government wanted Apple to unlock an Iphone for a terrorist

The theory of Utilitarianism states that actions should be judged as right or wrong depending on whether they cause more happiness or unhappiness. It weighs the rightness and wrongness of an action based on consequences of that action.

Utilitarianism is one of the most commonly used ethical theories from the time it was formulated by Jeremy Bentham and John Stewart Mill in the nineteenth century. In his work, Utilitarianism, Bentham “sought to dispel misconceptions that morality has nothing to do with usefulness or utility or that morality is opposed to pleasure” (MacKinnon, 2012, p. 53). To simplify the utilitarian principle, which is one of utility, one can surmise that morality is equated with the greatest amount of utility or good for the greatest number of people (MacKinnon, 2012). Also, with its orientation to the “end or goal of actions” (MacKinnon, 2012, p. 54), Utilitarianism thus, espouses the consequentialist principle, e.g., the evaluation of any human act lies not so much in the nature of the act or the drive behind the act but rather the result of the act (MacKinnon, 2012).

The idea of Utilitarianism, and the greatest happiness principle were developed by philosophers John Stuart Mill and Jeremy Bentham in the 19th century, and even has lineage back to Epictetus, utilitarianism coincides with the greatest happiness principle. The idea is that you should act in a way that would generate the majority of overall happiness, and focus on the consequences of your actions rather than the action itself (Driver, 2009), this goes along perfectly with the definition to be wise of maximizing benefit, because being wise means maximizing benefit. Furthermore, this means that good actions have good consequences, regardless of the intention of the action. This way, we can ensure that we ensure that we, as a society and individuals, make as many people as happy as possible, and through knowing that you are promoting happiness for others, you yourself can find happiness through that. Therefore, because we as sentient beings, do what we do as we think it will promote our happiness, thinking and acting like a utilitarian will ensure that our actions

Utilitarianism may have its strengths in the sense that it is considering consequences of each situation and making a decision that is most beneficial to the majority. It is based on consequences, as outlined in HDM (p.69), every situation will be different entailing different facts, which will determine the best situation. By measuring the consequences, the most beneficial outcome can be identified. No act can be entirely right or wrong. The idea of democracy also in HDM (p.69), is a good use of utilitarianism, society will choose who they find most suitable to decide for the city, province, or country. Subsequently, maximizing the good for all. This ethical theory can promote happiness, by deciding what is going to be most beneficial and weighing your options, one can choose what makes them most happy and is suitable to their situation.