Explain the main features of the theory of Utilitarianism The theory of Utilitarianism takes its name from the Latin word Utilis‚ meaning ‘useful’. It was first developed by Jeremy Bentham‚ a philosopher and legal theorist of the 18th century. Bentham sought to produce a modern and rational approach to morality which would suit the changing society of the industrial age. This was also the era of the French and American Revolutions‚ and of the Enlightenment‚ so orthodox morality was challenged
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Utilitarianism‚ by John Stuart Mill‚ is an essay written to provide support for the value of utilitarianism as a moral theory‚ and to respond to misconceptions about it. Mill defines utilitarianism as a theory based on the principle that "actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness‚ wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness." Mill defines happiness as pleasure and the absence of pain. He argues that pleasure can differ in quality and quantity‚ and that pleasures
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determines whether it is true and good. Ronald White explains‚ there is a difference between whether something is good and/or true (279). There happen to be three primary theories that explain morality and they all answer the same questions: what is good‚ why is it good‚ and where is the good located (280). The theories that answer these questions are the teleological‚ deontological‚ and virtue-based theory. These theories answer the same questions nevertheless they don’t answer them the same way
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relationships are administrated by implicit or explicit contracts between agents and principals. The assumption of agents’ self – interest which contradicts with the principals’ interest is the basis of the agency problem. According to Alawattage and Wickramasinghe‚ agency theory suggests two fundamental reasons for the agency problem. First is the goal contradiction between the agent and principal. Second reason is the information asymmetry between the agent and principal. Principal does not know the amount
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operational‚ and concrete operational. On the other hand‚ Vygotsky based his theory of development the basic notions that children construct knowledge‚ learning can lead to development‚ development cannot be separated from its social context‚ and language plays a role in development. Though both of the well-known theories explain child development‚ they are each different from one another. The most obvious difference is that Piaget’s stages are hierarchical‚ while Vygotsky’s are not. This
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Utilitarianism states “that an action is morally right if and only if it produces at least as much good (utility) for all people affected by the action as any alternative action the person could do instead.” (Audi 942) One of the branches of utilitarianism is act-utilitarianism‚ and it is also considered by philosophers to be the “traditional utilitarianism.” (Schick 349) The purpose of act-utilitarianism is to follow the action that will maximize happiness for a given populace. Act-utilitarianism
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final paper on John Stuart Mill’s utilitarianism theory. The source I’m using is Mill‚ John Stuart Ethics: History‚ Theory‚ and Contemporary issues‚ edited by Steven M. Cahn and Peter Markie 362-396. New York: Oxford University Press‚ 2012. Thesis: I will show how the greatest happiness principle (GHP) should have greater nuance so it won’t remove happiness from others in order to create more happiness. I’m taking two quotes out of the book on utilitarianism perspectives‚ and on the greatest
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In the Ethical Life‚ Russ Shafer-Landau talks about John Stuart Mill and his theory on Utilitarianism. Mill states that Utilitarianism is the most influential presentation of doctrine and agrees with the Utilitarian belief of which is ethical decisions should be based on the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people. But if this is true‚ then would people not act out of personal interest? Utilitarianism‚ as previously stated‚ is the belief of which ethical decisions should be based on
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Explain the main differences between Act and Rule Utilitarianism Utilitarianism is a theory‚ which first became widely acknowledge when it was adopted by its greatest advocate Jeremy Bentham. It is a theory that maintains that it is an action’s total consequence that determines its moral correctness. It is a theory not concerned with the effects of the action on the individual carrying out the action‚ but instead the effect it has on everybody affected by the action. It also maintains that it is
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essay I will discuss Utilitarianism by first explaining how Utilitarians are consequentialists who base their actions on the pleasure of pain of their consequences. Secondly‚ Jeremy Bentham will be discussed as the propagator of the Principle of Utility which determines human self-interest and voluntary action to achieve the greatest good or greatest pleasure. Thirdly‚ I will discuss John Stuart Mills and his more complex version of Utilitarianism. To clarify the Utilitarian theory I will illustrate
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