The Pros And Cons Of Utilitarianism - 954 Words

The Pros and Cons of Utilitarianism Utilitarianism is the ethical belief that the happiness of the greatest number of people is the greatest good. Jeremy Betham and John Stuart Mill are two philosophers that were leading advocates for the utilitarianism that we study today. In order to understand the basis of utilitarianism, one must know what happiness is. John Stuart Mill defines happiness as the intended pleasure and absence of pain while unhappiness is pain and the privation of pleasure. Utilitarians feel the moral obligation to maximize pleasure for not only themselves, but for as many people as possible. All actions can be determined as right or wrong based on if they produce the maximum amount of happiness. The utilitarian belief that all actions can be determined as right or wrong based only on their repercussions connects utilitarianism to consequentialism. Consequentialism is the belief that an action can be determined morally right or wrong based on its consequences. Just like any other belief system, utilitarianism faces immense amount of praise and criticism. Perhaps the strongest argument in favor of utilitarianism is the fact that it is such a simplistic and straightforward belief system. The central focus to maximize pleasure and happiness avoids confusion and manipulation of utilitarianism. Calculating whether an action is right or wrong is as easy as calculating how much pleasure an pain will result from the action. If the action produces the mostShow MoreRelatedPros and Cons of Utilitarianism1087 Words   |  5 PagesPros and Cons of Utilitarianism Utilitarianism is a philosophy in which the ends justify the means, or in which the morality of an action is determined by the function that follows the action. Although Utilitarianism has many good principals that are both logical and appealing, the contradictions of the philosophy make it incompatible with Christian ethics. The moral standards that utilitarianism is supposedly based on only work when a person doesnt consider the personal emotions that mightRead MorePros And Cons Of Utilitarianism1354 Words   |  6 PagesUtilitarianism is the theory that focuses on the outcomes of the decisions, rather than the intentions you had when making the decision in the first place. Utilitarianism focuses on a straightforward method for determining the morally right course of action for any dilemma one may find themselves in. It is a multi-step process in which one must go through. The first step would be to identify the possible actions that could be taken. The second would be to determi ne the foreseeable pros and cons thatRead MoreThere Was A Seventeen-Year-Old Boy Named Joe Beene That1674 Words   |  7 Pagesdilemma that the Beene family is facing by using the utilitarianism theory specifically the act utilitarianism theory. Act utilitarianism theory is quite simple stating that the right action is the one that brings the greatest utility. By using the act utilitarianism theory, I will need to decipher what the actions are and what the pros and cons are of that action. I will then need to look at the consequences and then list what the pros and cons are of those consequences. Based off those findingsRead MoreThe Ethical Theory Of Utilitarianism1543 Words   |  7 Pagescreatures happy. Some believe to do the right thing, because it’s the right thing to do versus doing the right thing for happiness. The theory comes with different Pro and Cons of making some happy or having happiness. I believe that this is the best ethical theory that we have discussed in class, because it deals with happiness. Utilitarianism is a monistic ethical theory with just one ultimate value, which is the maximus of happiness. Each person desires his own happiness. Therefore each individualRead MoreJohn Stuart Mill On The Modern World1544 Words   |  7 Pagesborn in 1806 and died in 1873. He has also influenced many philosophical views that still influence different aspects in different disciplines like sociology, politics and economy. He is probably most known for his developments on the theory of utilitarianism which he uses to explain morality. Mill argues that the usefulness or moral worth of an action is determined by its utility (pleasure or satisfaction derived from the consequences of the action). Mill suggests that our emotions are a basis forRead MoreThe Rights Of Physician Assisted Suicide1347 Words   |  6 Pagesmultiple ways, and have multiple different solutions. Someo ne could look and justify it through the lens of Natural law and could bring up the doctrine of double effects, or the preservation of human life. Another person could go against it by using utilitarianism and could bring up how it maximizes the good, and produces the greatest overall good. Whether you find it to be murder/suicide or just a smarter decision if you cannot life properly, you must realize this is an issue that does need to be discussedRead MoreAnalysis Of Jean Mcguire s Closing The Deal Essay1475 Words   |  6 Pagestechnique to gain more sales, or to continue to lag behind the other colleagues. Jean must decide whether she is going to deal with this in a consequential approach or a non-consequential approach. If looking at a consequential approach egoism and utilitarianism would be the theories to look at, or Jean could use a non-consequential approach looking a Kant’s ethics. Firstly the definition of â€Å"an ethical dilemma is a problem, situation or opportunity that requires an individual, group, or organizationRead MoreVirtue Ethics Approach Essay examples1017 Words   |  5 PagesIdentify the main pros and cons of a virtue ethics approach? The virtue ethics approach is a theory that suggests that people are judged via their character, not specific actions. An individual who has developed good character traits (virtues) is judged as a morally good person. An individual who has developed bad character traits (vices) is judged as a morally bad person. Most of us have a mixture or virtues and vices. There are many pros and cons linked to this approach. The pros include a. EmphasisRead MoreThe, The Greatest Good For Greatest Number1354 Words   |  6 Pagestorturing the daughter because it’s all about maximizing utility. With that being said A Philosopher by the name of Joshua Green found out just that. Joshua Greene basically argued in his piece â€Å"Moral Tribes† for of which what the â€Å"Father of Utilitarianism†, Bentham, states. Bentham said â€Å"The Greatest good for the greatest number†, essentially referring to quantity of pleasure. Joshua used the comparisons of hitting and killing one person instead of 5 with a trolley is what utilitarian would haveRead MoreUtilitarianism And Utilitarianism887 Words   |  4 PagesUtilitarianism and Kantianism are some of the popular moral philosophical theories that have been used to deliberate on ethical matters in the society. The business world, systems of government, healthcare system, and other facets of the society are dependent on the provisions of these theories. Utilitarianism and Kantianism were developed by Jeremy Bentham and Immanuel Kant respectively. While these theories can be applied in a beneficial manner in a wi de array of areas, it is clear that Kantianism