Examples Of Utilitarianism

Donovan J. Greening

Dr. Young

Intro to Ethics 1020

March 26th, 2017

Tobacco and Morality

Though a public health and political economy issue, tobacco control policy has also been termed a morality issue. The tobacco control issue has been part of the morality concern since the early twentieth century (Studlar, 2008). To date, focus has been put on emphasizing the health and social concerns of substance abuse, in an attempt to counter the perceived psychological benefits of use and peer pressure. Results from a study carried out show that use of substances was directly related to moral perceptions with those against use less likely to be users while those who considered it alright were users, Amonini and Donovan (2006). This essay will be

It focuses on outcomes rather than intentions. Two of the most noted utilitarian advocates; Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill held that the good the best action is the one maximizes utility, utility being defined in terms of well-being of sentient entities like human beings or animals- to benefit as many stakeholders as possible. Evidence suggests that utilitarianism is the preferred ethical theory of health economists and economists working in other fields. Robertson, Morris and Walter (2007) define utilitarianism as a ‘measure of the relative happiness or satisfaction of a group, usually considered in questions of the allocation of limited resources to a population’ Journal of the European ethics network

Kant advocated for application of a formal test to morality called categorical imperative, categorical meaning that this ethical principle is the supreme and absolute and true test to morality, and imperative meaning that at times one must command oneself to be moral ad do the right thing, even when one’s self-interests may be contravened by acting rightly. Thus, if an action produces a greater good, such as discussed in the utilitarian views, and is nonetheless disrespectful and demeaning and treats people as mere means, things or instruments, then the action is not moral. The goal should be for everyone to be treated as a worthwhile human being with dignity and respect (Cavico & Mujtaba,