1 I) Utilitarianism…………………………………….P.3 II) Introduction to the main idea of Utilitarianism : The Principle of Utility ………………………….P.6 The Greatest Happiness Principle…………….P.9 III) Two kinds of pleasure………………........…P.11 IV) The Calculation of Utility…………………....P.15 V) The measurement of utility……………..…..P.17 VI) The proof of Principle of Greatest Happiness……………………………….…..P.18 VII) The Harm Principle ………………………..P.19 VIII) Assessing Utilitarianism…………………..P.21 2 I) Utilitarianism: + Whenever
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According to Aristotle‚ in order to pursue virtue we must learn to both feel and act correctly. Being a virtuous person entails being affected by pleasure and pain. In book II of “Nicomachean Ethics”‚ Aristotle begins by explaining how virtuous actions are acquired by habit. He writes‚ “Rather‚ we are by nature able to acquire them‚ and we are completed through habit” (Aristotle 18). Essentially‚ Aristotle is saying that we acquire habits as we acquire skills. Virtues are acquired through habituation and
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Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics goes to show that he believes that the end goal of all human actions is eudaimonia‚ or happiness through success and fulfillment. Following this concept Aristotle goes on to explain that through virtuosity a human being can lead a happy life. He defines virtue as a disposition to make the correct decisions that lead to the chief good of happiness. A perfect example is when he describes someone who does an action well as being good‚ but they are only considered good
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There are obvious problems with both Act and Rule Utilitarianism. Both theories share the common goal of achieving the greatest happiness for the greatest amount of people. However‚ it is impossible to measure or compare happiness‚ as one persons happiness may not necessarily be another’s. And how do we measure intangible gain‚ such as happiness against material gain‚ such as money? The root principle is a good concept‚ but it’s the means to which we arrive at the end that cause the problems. In
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many great thinkers rolling in their graves. One of these thinkers‚ Aristotle‚ wrote extensively about the importance of human virtue and its relationship to politics. After outlining the Greek philosopher’s view of man’s final end‚ I argue that‚ for Aristotle‚ ethics is necessarily related to the common good and concerns mankind as a whole. Book I of the Nicomachean Ethics opens with the observation that‚ “Every art and every inquiry‚ and similarly every action as well as choice‚ is held to aim at
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brother was at the hindsight of my mind‚ consequences for me‚ my brother‚ and extended and nuclear family were an even more important consideration for me. Act-utilitarianism justifies what is right or wrong by the consequences of a situation; this explains why it is the main principle to use for my scenario. This traditional form of utilitarianism focuses on whether an act is morally permissible or required based on the predicted or actual consequences. Because my actual consequences were very similar
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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 on many fronts. Utilitarianism may be
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The theories of Utilitarianism and Ethical egoism differ in many ways‚ however‚ they are both similar in the aspect of making choices and having the best outcome for those choices. Ethical egoism claims that an action must be morally right and completely maximize ones own self-interest or interests. The “opposing theory” Utilitarianism‚ states that an action must be one that produces the most good overall or to all those affected. Utilitarianism and Ethical egoism are forms of consequentialism in
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important than the act itself? Mill’s utilitarianism and Kantianism sit in opposition to each other. Utilitarianism advocates for the judgment of actions based on the happiness they create and advocate for consequentialism. Kantianism advocates for the judgment of actions based on the intrinsic features of the act. Essentially‚ utilitarianism gives the highest regard to what will happen‚ whereas Kantianism gives regard to what is being done. Although utilitarianism is right to examine how an act affects
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Ethical Egoism and Utilitarianism are considered consequentialism theories because they both focus on the outcome of conduct as the primary motivation of that action and whether or not that conduct is ethical. Consequentialism is a moral theory that states that the consequences of one’s actions are the basis of any morality or judgement toward that action. The major difference between the two theories is where those acts are directed. Utilitarianism focuses on the idea of the greater good or to
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