Using Rule Utilitarianism, it applies the Principle of Utility to moral rules. To analysis Linda situation we have to come with an appropriate moral rule. Linda has two alternatives either hire Mary or don’t hire Mary. If she hires Mary, then a moral rule could be “If I can hire someone who knows the current Medicare regulations, has the skills and knowledge I need, and can fill the vacant position, then I should do so”. This will benefit the workers who have to pitch in and cover the workload. Linda can have someone that has the qualifications she needs and doesn’t need to look for more people. The harm that this rule will cause is that Peter might end up leaving because he rarely speaks and Mary wants a lot of social involvement. Linda doesn’t
In this paper I will explain how Act Utilitarianism, pure Rule Utilitarianism, and pseudo-Rule Utilitarianism would differ in their reasoning regarding the case of Al and Betty. With each method of reasoning, I evaluate the situation without background or moral assumptions of each character, and then separately with the assumption that while Al was away Betty became chronically ill and has one day left to live.
First, looking from a rule utilitarian point, the question must be asked what does a rule utilitarian consider ethical and what might they consider unethical? The best way to define what a rule utilitarian might think is ethical would be “obey those laws, rules, and principles that tend to cause the most happiness.” Although this is the way a rule utilitarian would think, what really matters in the end is if it did or did not end up causing the most happiness, so the thinking may be ethical, but if in the end more people are unhappy when the law tends to make more people happy, people are still unhappy in the end so the choice was unethical. Whatever in the end causes the most happiness is the most ethical thing to do according to a rule utilitarian.
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.
However, some arguments against the rule utilitarianism are mentioned, such as they may do the more good with violate the rule than obey it who are irrationally supporting the rule-based actions which criticized by act utilitarian, and they think this like a form of “rule worship”, non rational respect to rules that has no utilitarian
My friend came to me asking for help with his computer code. He works for a competing company against my company. My employer has given me a coding project that is the same as my friends coding project for his company. When helping him edit his code, I realize that his code is much better than the code I have already written. When presented with this predicament, I decide to use a rule utilitarianism viewpoint.
The first form of utilitarianism is “act” utilitarianism. This form mainly focuses on the greatest good for the greatest number of people. This means that the morality of one’s actions would be correct it affects the majority in a positive way. Breaking the rules would be just only if it brings greater good to the majority. An example would be the abolishment of slavery because fighting for the right to free an entire race enslaved by another is obviously the morally right thing to do.
Classical utilitarianism is a normative ethical theory which holds that an action can only be considered as morally right where its consequences bring about the greatest amount of good to the greatest number (where 'good' is equal to pleasure minus pain). Likewise, an action is morally wrong where it fails to maximise good. Since it was first articulated in the late 19th Century by the likes of Jeremy Bentham and later John Stewart Mill, the classical approach to utilitarianism has since become the basis for many other consequentialist theories such as rule-utilitarianism and act-utilitarianism upon which this essay will focus (Driver, 2009). Though birthed from the same
In the utilitarian approach, the decision has to provide the most good and the least amount of harm. In the situation, with a new car being delayed in release because of a small problem with the door locks that may or may not affect the locks from working depending on if the temperature drops extremely low. I believe a utilitarian would release the car that has the problem with door locks because this will provide the least amount of harm. In the description of the car it said the door locks could stop working when the temperature gets cold. I believe people who live in places such as; Alaska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota could possibly be affect with this problem. People who live in places such as; Florida, California, and George would not have to worry about their car doors being broken. More people would benefit from the car being released having the problem with the door locks.
Mylan should provide 50 percent off coupons to customers. By applying Utilitarianism approach to the second, our solution is ethical, because it helps thousands of patients and only hurts shareholders because of a lower return for their investments.
Utilitarianism: “The idea that an action is right, as long as it promotes happiness, and that the greatest happiness of the greatest number should be the guiding principle of conduct (Oxford Dictionaries).” This theory was thought up as far back as the 17th century, but didn’t become well known until late into the 18th century when Jeremy Bentham a legal and social reformer gave a powerful presentation of the idea. “Create all the happiness you are able to create; remove all the misery you are able to remove. Every day will allow you, will invite you to add something to the pleasure of others, or to diminish something of their pains (Jeremey Bentham).” Deontology: “An ethical theory that the morality of an action should be based on whether
According Waller (2005) states that “relativism is a used in a variety of ways and disciplines, ranging from physics to anthropology” (p.84). There are two forms that the author talks about in the book sociological relativism and cultural relativism. Sociological relativism is different
In utilitarianism, promoting self-happiness through an action is an important factor of nonchalant happiness and the greatest than anyone could ever receive. Two Reading, Ohio boys in Winter of 2007, took actions into a very disgusting and unnerving way. They decided to spray lysol into a cat’s face, pop its eyes out, crush its spine, strike it with a stake and dismember it; disgusting enough to even say it. The day after, they bragged about it in class to their classmates. As utilitarians say, animals are a part of the moral community and within that, rights are secured and with respect, everyone takes each other’s needs seriously. As quoted, “Every moral theory needs to have a way to determine who gains entry to the moral community. The utilitarian test is recorded in a famous slogan by Jeremy Bentham: ‘the question is not, Can they reason? Nor, Can they talk? But Can they suffer’” (Landau, 2015, p. 130). It is important to know that animals, like human beings have their own right. Although utilitarians say it is okay to harm others in their moral community, it comes at a price--it does not just go unseen or unheard of.
Rule utilitarianism principle in a general sense states that certain actions that decrease the utility of the society as a whole can be deemed unethical. In the case where a company actively markets and sells spyware to government agencies and those spyware application are used by such agencies to catch and deter criminals and terrorist; the company’s actions in such a scenario can therefore be deemed ethical within the bounds of rule utilitarianism principle as their actions are helping deter criminal and terrorist acts. When criminals and terrorists intent to harm the society through means of violence their actions are unethical and thus bring harm the natural rights innocent civilians. Their act of violence therefore has a negative impact
There are several theories that try to explain the morality of the actions; however, two stand out. the first is deontology, and the other one is utilitarianism. The former follow the idea that the consequences of you action hold no importance in what we ought to do. But rather, some actions are morally wrong or good by itself. The latter follows an opposite view in which the consequences of an action are what it makes an action moral. Specially, if that action produce the greatest happiness over unhappiness. In this essay I will focus on two Utilitarianism ramifications, act utilitarianism and rule utilitarianism. They both agree that consequences must be the greatest factor in deciding what we ought to do. Nonetheless they have one big difference. Rule Utilitarianism generalize acts and recreate the consequences of a rule. If the consequences are ultimately favoring, then it is morally right. By way of contrast, Act Utilitarianism evaluate each action individually, and similar situation would have different outcomes depending on the situation. There is no universal rule unlike rule utilitarianism.
2. To begin, I will be defining both act and rule utilitarianism. In act utilitarianism, you determine the morality of an act by measuring the pleasures and pains for a specific situation Angeles 326). Act utilitarians take into consideration only those affected in the specific situation. However, rule utilitarianism determines the morality of an act “according to the good or bad consequences that ensue from following a general moral rule of conduct…” (Angeles 326). Good examples of those general moral rules are phrases like, never steal or never tell a lie. In any situation, people can use either act or rule utilitarianism to determine the correct course of action.