Calculating Consequences: A Student Refutation of Utilitarianism Erik Z. Hallworth San Francisco State University Utilitarianism is a consequentialist theory holding that moral actions are based on the maximization of overall happiness‚ defined as the Utility Principle. Mill and Bentham ’s utilitarianism makes a plausible and convincing argument‚ though not everyone agrees with it. Bernard Williams writes Utilitarianism: For and Against the theory. In agreement
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To My Dearest Elsie‚ I know this is my 5th letter in 3 days but I need to tell the truth. I joined the army for adventure and the chance to see new places but instead I am living in a mud hole‚ freezing under constant fear of death. You may laugh and say that I am but whingeing and that I am probably the only scared man here but it’s not true. All 5‚000 of us are terrified of what may come if we so much as lift our heads into the view of the enemy. Every day I have spent in this trench‚
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1(a) Explain the general principles of utilitarianism‚ including reference to both act and rule utilitarianism The theory of utilitarianism was devised by Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832)‚ an English philosopher‚ who gave us the general principle which is used in Bentham and Mill’s theory of utilitarianism and act and rule utilitarianism. The general principle which utilitarianism is based around is the idea of maximising pleasure and minimising pain. Bentham put forward his hedonistic theory in the
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grew due to the influence of Jeremy Bentham; who helped changed the minds of people towards their views and treatment of animals. He had made a case for his perspective on this particular issue by implementing his ethical utilitarianism to animals—and his definition of utilitarianism is “the greatest happiness or greatest felicity principle” (Nietzche 1). Bentham furthers his argument when he made the claim that “our laws should grant animals the right not to be inflicted with suffering” (Fieser 1)
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If we actually think about how much that is‚ I can spend that on a cup of coffee every morning. Such strategy deserves moral consideration. Therefore‚ I would discuss the different arguments to approaching our moral duty with Kantianism and Utilitarianism. Poverty is the state that a certain person is lacking material things or money. Extreme cases of poverty is when a person is deprived of their basic needs like food‚ water‚ shelter‚ health care‚
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we are all individuals and that society is only the net result of our individual choices. Therefore‚ all we can do is vote for progressive candidates and write checks to progressive organizations. The sociologist Emile Durkheim understood that utilitarianism is a convenient fiction. Ultimately‚ we cannot be reduced to individuals making rational decisions‚ because our very understanding of reality is socially constructed. The significance of Wall Street‚ the invisible movements of billions of dollars
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The middle classes required a channel for their humanitarian passions. Unable to aid the victims of social problems such as slum dwellers‚ the unemployed or children in need‚ the plight of animals became a surrogate cause to campaign for. This lack of an alternative outlet may have resulted in a disproportionate response to issues related to animal well-being (Turner‚ 1946) (II) Double standards and class bias Lewis Carroll pointed out a contradiction within the scientific community which undermined
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Report 4 (1) Is cost-benefit analysis a legitimate tool? Is it’s application to non-economic matters – say to calculating the value of human life – ethically justifiable? What would Immanuel Kant say about placing a monetary value on human life? Is doing so ever morally legitimate? What would an utilitarian say about placing a monetary value on human life? (View the Sandel-video very‚ very carefully‚ generate your own notes on Jeremy Bentham’s and John Stuart Mill’s utilitarian theory and only
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Utilitarianism argues that‚ given a set of choices‚ the act we should choose is that which produces the best results for the greatest number affected by that choice. Jeremy Bentham’s‚ an English utilitarian‚ went off by saying that actions should be pursued if they promote the greatest amount of happiness. Thus‚ happiness is identified with pleasure and the absence of pain. Marijuana has been an uprising issue in today’s generation causing a growing debate on whether or not it should be legalized
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Utilitarianism‚ yet another ethical theory between right or wrong. If everyone acted in an effort to promote the greatest good for the greater number of people our universe would exist with a utilitarian state of mind. Although‚ when one looks at this statement on the surface without further analyzing it‚ most would assume that existing in a universe where everyone seeks the happiness for the greatest amount of people that it would be greater one to live in. Although‚ surface wise we can make
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