The Lifeboat Case and Utilitarianism Imagine that four men are placed in a life or death situation. They are stranded in a boat in the middle of the ocean with nothing to eat for nourishment. In a severely weakened state‚ the men decide that for the benefit of the majority they will draw lots and eat whoever draws the shortest; one of the men refuses to draw. The next day‚ in spite of the lottery‚ the youngest boy is killed and fed on by the other men. The argument proposed to justify their actions
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actions are considered in the rules of thumb. Utilitarianism is a species of consequentialism‚ which focuses on the greater good. Utilitarianism states that an act is right if and only if it produces more happiness and pleasure than unhappiness and pain. When we do utilitarianism‚ we aim to maximize overall happiness and minimize pain. In this essay‚ I will explain and defend the moral theory of utilitarianism. According to the theory of utilitarianism‚ an action is right if it brings the best possible
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Simply put‚ Utilitarianism states that one should act on what would bring the greatest happiness or benefit to the greatest amount of people. Therefore‚ a utilitarian would agree to push two heaviest passengers overboard to save the six. While it violates our morals to kill two people‚ a utilitarian would explain their choice with the integrity objection. In the situation of the lifeboat‚ one is faced with a situation that does not present a perfect outcome. However‚ a utilitarian would say that
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Utilitarianism is a moral theory which centers on happiness and how we can promote it‚ and is measured by our actions. Utilitarianism explains how human’s ultimate goal is to achieve happiness. This is also called hedonism‚ limiting the amount of pain and equating happiness with pleasure. This theory explains how we aim for happiness through our actions. According to hedonism‚ when a person wishes to act ethically‚ they should strive to produce the greatest possible amount of happiness for the greatest
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Mill’s Utilitarianism 1. The main topic discussed in Mill’s for is obviously Utilitarianism and his own interpretation of the definition and what it means. Mill also talks about the misconception people have about utilitarianism and the basis behind his theory. Mill interprets utilitarianism and describes it as happiness and pleasure. He describes how people seek happiness with only the absence of pain. Mill’s theory also goes on the dictate that there are different levels of happiness and it can
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This relates to the tension between Deontology and Utilitarianism because both have not approached the general level of acceptance in moral philosophy. 5. From the reading in the book in Section 6‚ how does rule utilitarianism answer the problem of “hanging the innocent man”? The rule of utilitarianism answers the people because act utilitarianism comes into action. A moral decision to maximize the best outcome of all persons are considerable verse
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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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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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Workshop Five-Ethical Solutions Paper Jackie Marshall June 19‚ 2013 Workshop Five-Ethical Solutions Paper The owner of a company reduced wages by 5% for all employees in 2010 due to the aftereffects of 9/11: an action that was necessary in order to save the company from financial ruin during a very turbulent economy. Since that time‚ no one within the organization has gotten a raise. However‚ the business has now stabilized‚ showing a net profit for the fourth quarter of 2011‚ all of
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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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