Utilitarianism: Who Is To Blame?
Utilitarianism is an ethical theory that advocates doing…
Utilitarianism is an ethical theory that advocates doing what is morally right and what makes the greatest number of people happy, or what brings the greatest amount of pleasure and the least amount of pain for the most people. The theory assumes that an action is morally justifiable if it increases the overall happiness of the greatest number of beings. To determine if an action is right, it is necessary to calculate the amount of pleasure or suffering that is produced as a result on an impartial basis, meaning that everyone’s happiness counts equally (Sinnott-Armstrong). Anthony
Ashley Cooper, an early utilitarian thinker stated, “…we call any creature worthy or virtuous when it can …show more content…
What else is it that should trace the insuperable line?
Is it the faculty of reason or perhaps the faculty of discourse? But a full-grown horse or dog, is beyond comparison a more rational, as well as a more conversable animal, than an infant of a day or a week or even a month, old. But suppose the case were otherwise, what would it avail? the question is not, Can they reason? nor, Can they talk? but, Can they suffer? Why should the law refuse its protection to any sensitive being? The time will come when humanity will extend its mantle over everything which breathes... (Bentham)” Certainly, utilitarianism lends itself to the idea of veganism based upon several points. First, the animals slaughtered for human consumption suffer so their levels of happiness are not being maximized. Second, the
5/21/2018 Jupiter Ed https://login.jupitered.com/0/staff.php?sz=19321cec&user=2310670 3/8 environment deteriorates as a result of the production of animal-based products which in turn, negatively impacts the happiness level of humans. Third, there are scientifically validated findings that link meat-based diets to serious human health conditions, such as heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and obesity. These …show more content…
Animals are deprived of the happiness they could have had living out their full and natural lives. They also incur enormous amounts of suffering before they are killed. Their accumulated suffering certainly accounts for a greater amount than the momentary pleasure one receives from tasting an animal product. Utilitarianism claims that we should be concerned with the happiness of all who can be happy. If there is something reducing the happiness of animals, then we should try to work against it, whatever it may be. So, given the many terrible ways in which wild animals are harmed in nature, their plight should be very important to utilitarians, as well as to those who follow certain other ethical approaches. Regarding the first scenario, another opinion might be that a vegetarian at the party should eat the meat since it is already available at the party, in other words, the animal’s life has already been lost. By doing so, this person would save money on buying his or her own food and the money saved could be donated to a charity, increasing the happiness of another individual. In this scenario, it would be necessary to give equal value to the lives of animals and to the lives of
Utilitarianism is an ethical theory that advocates doing what is morally right and what makes the greatest number of people happy, or what brings the greatest amount of pleasure and the least amount of pain for the most people. The theory assumes that an action is morally justifiable if it increases the overall happiness of the greatest number of beings. To determine if an action is right, it is necessary to calculate the amount of pleasure or suffering that is produced as a result on an impartial basis, meaning that everyone’s happiness counts equally (Sinnott-Armstrong). Anthony
Ashley Cooper, an early utilitarian thinker stated, “…we call any creature worthy or virtuous when it can …show more content…
What else is it that should trace the insuperable line?
Is it the faculty of reason or perhaps the faculty of discourse? But a full-grown horse or dog, is beyond comparison a more rational, as well as a more conversable animal, than an infant of a day or a week or even a month, old. But suppose the case were otherwise, what would it avail? the question is not, Can they reason? nor, Can they talk? but, Can they suffer? Why should the law refuse its protection to any sensitive being? The time will come when humanity will extend its mantle over everything which breathes... (Bentham)” Certainly, utilitarianism lends itself to the idea of veganism based upon several points. First, the animals slaughtered for human consumption suffer so their levels of happiness are not being maximized. Second, the
5/21/2018 Jupiter Ed https://login.jupitered.com/0/staff.php?sz=19321cec&user=2310670 3/8 environment deteriorates as a result of the production of animal-based products which in turn, negatively impacts the happiness level of humans. Third, there are scientifically validated findings that link meat-based diets to serious human health conditions, such as heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and obesity. These …show more content…
Animals are deprived of the happiness they could have had living out their full and natural lives. They also incur enormous amounts of suffering before they are killed. Their accumulated suffering certainly accounts for a greater amount than the momentary pleasure one receives from tasting an animal product. Utilitarianism claims that we should be concerned with the happiness of all who can be happy. If there is something reducing the happiness of animals, then we should try to work against it, whatever it may be. So, given the many terrible ways in which wild animals are harmed in nature, their plight should be very important to utilitarians, as well as to those who follow certain other ethical approaches. Regarding the first scenario, another opinion might be that a vegetarian at the party should eat the meat since it is already available at the party, in other words, the animal’s life has already been lost. By doing so, this person would save money on buying his or her own food and the money saved could be donated to a charity, increasing the happiness of another individual. In this scenario, it would be necessary to give equal value to the lives of animals and to the lives of