Utilitarianism And Its Effect On Society - 1257 Words

Utilitarianism Utilitarianism (also called consequentialism) is â€Å"actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness; wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness. By happiness is intended pleasure and the absence of pain; by unhappiness, pain and the privation of pleasure.† (CW, X.210) (Heydt). There are several varieties of utilitarianism. â€Å"Basically, a utilitarian approach to morality implies that no moral act (an act of stealing) or rule (â€Å"Keep your promises†) is intrinsically right or wrong. Rather, the rightness or wrongness of an act or rule is solely a matter of the overall nonmoral good (pleasure, happiness, health, knowledge, or satisfaction of individual desire) produced in the consequences of doing that act or following that rule (Moreland, 2009).† I will argue the believe of Utilitarian’s way of the purpose of morality is to make life better by â€Å"increasing the amount of good things† (such as p leasure and happiness) in the world and â€Å"decreasing the amount of bad things† (such as pain and unhappiness) (Nathanson). I will begin by stating my argument. One reason the utilitarian way of doing things is true it’s because we can choose to make less damage and pain in doing the morally right choice. For example, let’s say you are driving down a road late at night, your eyes are already tired and they are starting to close, so you start losing control of the car. You only have two choices, if you turn left you will hit twoShow MoreRelatedUtilitarianism and Happiness945 Words   |  4 PagesUtilitarianism In his book, J.S. Mill attempts to build on Jeremy Benthams original idea of Utilitarianism. His definition of the moral theory is one that is grounded in Benthams original work but also extends to include remarks to criticisms of Utilitarianism. Mill believes that, like Bentham, utility is what is valuable to society. Utility, according to Mill, is the promotion of pleasure or the absence of pain. He defines this as happiness, which is why he refers to utility as the GreatestRead MoreDifference Between Ethical Egoism And Utilitarianism1060 Words   |  5 PagesEthical Egoism vs. Utilitarianism   The concepts  within Ethical Egoism and Utilitarianism show  the way in which they teach people to act in a form that is most moral in society. In order for us to achieve a more ethical society, we must look into the ways that people can change their actions to adjust to needs of the individual or the whole group. Whose needs should be met first in any type of situation is the question that should be determined based on these two ideals. An ethical society is one that providesRead MoreBentham s Argument For Utilitarianism846 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction In my opinion, Bentham’s argument for utilitarianism is unsatisfactory. Firstly, I will provide a background on his argument. Secondly, I will argue against Bentham and provide examples which illustrate the negative consequences of utilitarianism. Thirdly, I will argue that it’s practically impossible to maximize universal happiness. Background Bentham argues that humans only commit actions on the bases of utility, which is the desire to enjoy happiness and prevent pain. He is certainRead MoreUtilitarianism : Theory And Contemporary Issues1350 Words   |  6 PagesIn today s society, we face many obstacles in our attempt to achieve the feeling of happiness. As intelligent beings, we try to solve these problems by taking the path that best benefits us. The theory of utilitarianism provides a solution to this but at what cost? What are the benefits and disadvantages of utilitarianism? Is utilitarianism an idea one should live by? What is utilitarianism? I plan on answering these questions within this paper and understand how they relate to everyday life. IRead MoreUtilitarianism, By John Rawls And Robert Nozick1486 Words   |  6 PagesUtilitarianism is a moral theory according to which an action is right if and only if it conforms to the principle of utility. An action conforms to the principle of utility if and only if it s performance will be more productive of pleasure or happiness, or more preventive of pain and happiness, than any alternative. The rightness of an action entirely depends on the value of its consequences, this is why the theory is described as consequentialist. The â€Å"separateness of persons† is an objection againstRead MoreGeorge Dickens s Hard Times1183 Words   |  5 PagesThe Victorian Era marks the rise of Industrialism within Great Britain, and with it, philosophies to match new ethics. Specifically, Utilitarianism became a prominent concept. The idea, born from the minds of Jeremy Bentham and James Mill, considers actions morally correct if they perform the greatest good for the greatest number. Charles Dickens, a famous author of the era, criticized the philosophy for its dehumanizing qualities. Bentham and Mills s philosophy allowed for consequentialism, whereRead MoreThe Dilemma Of The Death Penalty1703 Words   |  7 PagesThere are many ethical issues that b eset our society in this day and age. This paper will discuss the ethological dilemma of the death penalty in the philosophical outlooks of Utilitarianism and Deontology, present arguments in light of both, and proceed to show why Deontology offers the best insights into the justification for the death penalty. The death penalty, also known as â€Å"capital punishment†, is, â€Å"the sentence of execution for murder and some other capital crimes (serious crimes, especiallyRead MoreUtilitarianism, By John Stuart Mill1365 Words   |  6 Pages In John Stuart Mill’s book Utilitarianism, he argues for the defense of utilitarianism, an age old theory originally developed by Jeremy Bentham that states the proper course of action is the one that maximizes happiness. The course of action that maximizes general happiness is also the only true standard for moral assessment. Mill also introduces the idea of ‘first principle’ which states that it is not acceptable for individuals to characterize actions as either ‘good’ or ‘bad’, because it isRead MoreModule 3 Questions Essay1299 Words   |  6 PagesQuestioned). Testing drugs in foreign countries would prove to be unethical in the eyes of utilitarianism. In the theory of Act utilitarianism we sho uld always do an action that generates the greatest happiness for whoever is affected by the act. In act utilitarianism, one must consider all consequences of a single action and then act if and only if that action maximizes good for all affected. This type of utilitarianism only has us answer one specific question; â€Å"does this specific action maximize happinessRead MoreEssay on Module 3 Original Assignment1473 Words   |  6 Pagestheory, testing drugs in foreign countries would prove to be unethical. Utilitarianism more specifically act utilitarianism tells us that we should always do an action that generates the greatest happiness for whoever is affected by the act. In act utilitarianism one must consider all consequences of a singular action, and then act if and only if that action maximizes utility for all affected. This type of utilitarianism only has us answer one specific question which is â€Å"does this specific action