Utilitarianism is a consequentialist theory‚ which means that it judges the morality of an action based on the consequences that follow from it rather than on external moral duties. Philosophers who adhere to utilitarianism regard the maximisation of utility as the key determent for understanding whether an action is right or not . In this essay I will argue that the amount of utility produces by an action is not an ideal way of determining its morality. This will be done by firstly clarifying the
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Utilitarianism is a moral theory that was originally created by Jeremy Bentham that he hoped would help people make difficult moral decisions. There are three main types of utilitarianism: Act‚ Rule and Preference. The different forms of utilitarianism all have different ways of helping people make decisions. Jeremy Bentham was the creator of Act utilitarianism and believes that people should aim to create the largest amount of pleasure possible for the greatest number of people through their moral
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Mill’s Utilitarianism brings an extended concept of Bentham’s philosophy and a response to Kant’s deontological philosophy. The basic concept of utilitarianism is to act in such a way as to create the most pleasure or the least pain. This is the guideline because‚ as Mill states‚ we desire happiness; happiness is maximizing pleasure and minimizing pain. However‚ is utilitarianism viable? There are many arguments for it‚ but just as many against. First‚ utilitarianism allows for the good
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Utilitarianism and Aristotelian Ethics John Stuart Mill and Aristotle are two of the most notable philosophers in history to date. Between Mill’s Utilitarianism and Aristotle’s virtue ethics you can see a large portion our cultures ethics today. Their philosophies are apparent in contemporary everyday life. Aristotle has written several pieces on virtue and friendship. The two most notable works being the Magna Moralia and the Eudemian Ethics. However‚ his Nicomachean Ethics were by far the
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popular and society is becoming even more severely egoistic. Two examples or branches of consequentialism are egoism and utilitarianism. The definition of utilitarianism according to a dictionary website is 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. Utilitarianism is simply‚ doing the most good for the most people. The definition of egoism is the habit of valuing everything only in
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Utilitarianism This castaway-esque example brings forth many strong considerations from a utilitarian perspective. The first of many considerations would be that you as the individual ought to do what is deemed morally right for the greatest amount of people‚ maximizing utility and reducing potential suffering of others. In this specific case‚ I would have to not look in my own interest anymore and instead‚ take into account the interests of others (The estranged adult child and woman whom you made
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Utilitarianism: Bentham – Hedonic Calculus Bentham was a hedonist – he believed that pleasure is good in itself‚ and other things are good in so far as they bring about pleasure and the absence of pain. “Nature has placed mankind under the governance of two sovereign masters‚ pain and pleasure.” You could work out which action to perform by calculating which option brought about the greatest amount of pleasure: Duration – how long does the pleasure last? Remoteness – how distant is the pleasure?
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Assignment Paper 2 1. What do Act Utilitarianism believes? How do their beliefs differ from those of Rule Utilitarianism? According to Aggabao (2013)‚ act utilitarianism (AU) capture that people must implement that deed that well bring about the greatest benefit for all people who concerned. Act utilitarianism believes that each situation is different from other situations. On other word each situation is unique and non-repeatable. So each individual has to try to avoid about the greatest number
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Utilitarianism Definitions of Justice like “giving individuals what they deserve” or “equal distribution of resources” cause tension with utilitarianism concept because it states that what people ‘deserve’ is not essential as maximizing the overall well-being. The concept of utilitarianism is to maximize happiness or minimize suffering and none of these concepts bears a direct relationship with the concept of justice. So‚ a decrease in suffering or increase in happiness will not correlate with an
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Utilitarianism was founded by Jeremy Bentham and further defined by John Stuart Mill to fully be developed into an ethical philosophy by the nineteenth century. In Utilitarianism‚ consequences are the only thing that matters. Motives only matter if the result is happiness being maximized. Utilitarianism has a foundation based on giving the majority of people the greatest quality of happiness. In order to do so‚ actions are never dependent on self-interest or self-sacrifice‚ and impartiality
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