Legal Theory Utilitarianism: Pros and Cons Random House Dictionary defines utilitarianism as “the ethical doctrine that virtue is based on utility‚ and that conduct should be directed toward promoting the greatest happiness of the greatest number of persons. The father of utilitarianism‚ Jeremy Bentham believed that all human beings are motivated by minimizing pain and maximizing pleasure; therefore morality and justice should be determined on those same grounds. Utilitarianism teaches that maximizing
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Utilitarianism and libertinism are debatable philosophies to decide what is just. Utilitarian main principle is maximizing society happiness. From Utilitarian point of view‚ the best action is the action produce happiness for the greatest amount of people. Even though minority of people will suffer for the majority’s happiness. Moreover‚ utilitarianism measures the cost and benefit in single scale which is happiness. From this view‚ any other things than happiness are not valuable. On the other hand
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DEONTOLOGY vs UTILITARIANISM The theory of deontology is derived from the writings of German philosopher Immanuel Kant (1724-1804). Kant stated that a universal law should provide the basis for each act‚ and that the intention was of more importance than the result. Deontology is a duty-based ethical position‚ where one ’s actions are based on what is ethically correct‚ regardless of the consequences (Porche‚ 2004). Deontological theories hold that actions are morally right
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Animals and Utilitarianism When one commits a good act‚ they are in the right. When one commits a not-so-good act‚ they are in the wrong. On paper‚ this appears as a proportionate distinction of right and wrong and can thus appropriately navigate human behavior in this funny little place we call “life”. But what happens when a not-so-good act takes place but produces a greater outcome for the whole? Does that act suddenly loose its negative value? Many people like to view the world in which we
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Daniel Reyhan Philosophy 146 Paper 1 Question 1 One of the most significant philosophers in today’s world by the name of Immanuel Kant established an ethical theory with Utilitarianism. Kant’s moral theory was identified as difficult to learn‚ but once understood people understanding it must know the necessities as well. I will be explaining an argument that can support these views‚ as well as disprove them. One formula that Kant uses is the Formula of the End in Itself. We must recognize what it
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competition. Morality depends on our motives and of procedures. Although we can do what we want‚ we have to work without doing harm or violating any laws because this will result to corruption‚ violence‚ theft‚ etc. On the other hand‚ Utilitarianism states the overall and the greatest good‚ or the “Greatest happiness of the greatest number”. The basis for right and wrong depends if the given consequence or action upholds the happiness of the majority. It may promote human welfare but argument
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Utilitarianism‚ in its most basic form‚ upholds actions resulting in ends that allow for greatest good for the greatest amount of people‚ and ensures that pleasure is maximized and pain is minimized. Sovereign forces of pleasure and pain drive one’s everyday actions and justify said actions (Bentham‚ 1789). Raskolnikov’s methodical evaluation of the moral dilemma presented to him exemplifies an intrinsic understanding of utilitarianism. Raskolnikov employs the fundamentals
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establish peace among human beings by creating a social contract‚ in order to determine an authority and certain moral laws to which individuals are subjected and must obey. 6. Utilitarianism ignores that human beings have individual dignity‚ so it is not legitimated for it to be treated as a mean and‚ therefore‚ utilitarianism doesn’t consider the distinction between people. It also ignores the point that the presence of any advantage relies on mutual participation and
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Utilitarianism is an ethical theory that states that the right course of action would maximises the most utility. An action is right if the sum total of utilities produced by that act is greater than the sum total utilities produced by any other. Utility is defined in various ways so there are some misunderstandings of using utilitarianism. Utilitarianism states that an action is right when the action produces the most utility for all persons affected by the action so we should compare the utility
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right in which our moral duties may be. So‚ say if there is a terrorist the security forces have a prisoner‚ who is holding vital information that the US needs to keep from having any more attacks‚ should torturing be allowed? Looking at it from a utilitarianism ethic view‚ a utilitarian is more concerned with helping the majority. If this known terrorist has vital information that can possible save hundreds maybe even thousands of people‚ then torturing is necessary. The mind frame of a utilitarian may
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