ipl-logo

Why Utilitarianism Should Be Used As The Base Theory

1679 Words7 Pages

Utilitarianism, in its true meaning, is an ethical theory that holds that the best action is the one that maximizes overall happiness or pleasure and minimizes overall pain or suffering. It’s based on the idea that morality should be based on the greatest good for the greatest number of people, and that this morality should be judged based on its consequences, not on the intentions of the person committing the acts. This theory has been influential in many aspects of society and is why I will be explaining the reasons as to why utilitarianism should be used as the base theory when it comes to the betterment of society. But first, in order to understand the importance of why utilitarianism can and should be used, you have to look into why thinking …show more content…

In terms of utilitarianism, there are five main benefits that come with having it as a base theory for the betterment of society, 1: It promotes the greater good; 2: it can help provide for more rational decision making; 3: it can reduce unnecessary harm; 4: it can help promote compassion and empathy; and 5: it gives a flexible approach to morality and what exactly morality means. All five of these benefits relate to each other and lead into the next, adding up to ways in which can help individuals better society. The benefits that come with having utilitarianism as a base theory start with the simple fact that it promotes the greater good. Utilitarianism places a strong emphasis on promoting the common good and maximizing overall happiness and pleasure for the greatest number of people. This means that decision-making in society would be guided by a concern for the well-being of the majority, rather than the interests of a privileged few. This could potentially lead to policies and actions that benefit a large number of people and create a more equitable and harmonious …show more content…

He uses the thought experiment known as the drowning child thought experiment which encompasses every aspect of each of the five benefits. This scenario puts you in the position as to where you are walking past a pond and you see a child drowning, you would go into the water to save the child, despite the possibility of ruining your own clothes. This is because the act of having your clothes muddy is the better alternative to the child dying. The giving up of the clothes is obviously worth sacrificing in order to save the child and therefore follows the path of having the greater good, making a rational decision, reducing unnecessary harm, promoting compassion and empathy, and even showing the flexible morality that comes from choosing to save the child despite your clothes (which might have been a determining factor for someone else in the same situation). This goes to show the significance of making choices that end in the greatest good for the greatest number of people. But, even with these five benefits and the thought experiment which shows what should be a common sense thought process, there are ultimately critics who come in with the consequences of utilitarianism and why it’s something to be cautious of. Due to the fact that morality becomes flexible, there is opportunity for utilitarianism to justify

Show More
Related

Utilitarianism In The Things They Carried By Tim O Brien

1673 Words | 7 Pages

Utilitarianism is an ethical theory that determines right from wrong when looking at the outcomes. It believes that the most ethical choice is the one that will produce the greatest good for the greatest number. Consequentialism is found in utilitarianism; consequentialism is largely thought about during war. When you fight for your life in war, you end up taking another person's life. While this may be good for your country, it is hurting a different country.

Read More

Utilitarianism And The Prime Directive: Star Trek

306 Words | 2 Pages

Mills explains Utilitarianism as achieving life’s goals, it is what everyone wants or seek for. He further explains that utilitarianism promotes the quality of life. Furthermore, utilitarianism is connected to happiness, because we all seek to achieve different goals in life, and those goals are what makes up happy. We all want certain things in life, or want to achieve certain things. Utilitarianism promotes happiness, happiness exclude pain, suffering, struggles, stress, and anything that makes one ‘unhappy’ or ‘sad’.

Read More

Why Is Economics A Friend Or A Foe Of Ethics?

967 Words | 4 Pages

Bowie's approach is based on a "moral point of view that requires an individual to do the right thing, even if it is not in one's perceived best interest". (Bowie 2013, 32)

Read More

Theory Of Utilitarianism And Drinking Age

1533 Words | 7 Pages

Utilitarianism is an ethical theory that focuses on outcomes and consequences. When one considers the theory of utilitarianism, it must be understood that the pleasure is a fundamental moral good and the aim is to maximize pleasure and minimize pain. So, when a human is going through the decision making process it is of the utmost importance to look forward at the consequences of the decision and determine if the decision will maximize pleasure and minimize pain. John Stuart Mill, a nineteenth century philosopher focused on the theory of utilitarianism or the Greatest Happiness Principle and claimed that the maximization of happiness for the greatest quantity of people is the ultimate goal. One issue that we face in modern day America that

Read More

Kantianism's Objectification To Criticize Assisted Suicide

1454 Words | 6 Pages

The ethical theory of utilitarianism judges an action to maximize happiness and diminish pain for those who are affected or involved. Everything that we do, or cause, will affect the outcome and we should think of how our actions and judgments can be carried out to promote happiness for us and those around us. One of the main ideas of utilitarianism is consequentialism, meaning to maximize pleasure through the consequences of our actions. Another important concept of utilitarianism is impartiality, that everyone’s happiness is equally the same. This accounts for everyone’s happiness that is involved in the situation, but it must maximize the most pleasure overall.

Read More

Is The Lottery A Utilitarian Monster?

502 Words | 3 Pages

There is an advantage when it comes to making decisions about the greater good in a clear objective way. For example, having two tables where on side you total up all your money and the other side this will allow for automatic decisions like in the case of Ford Pinto. This is a very attractive benefit, especially when you’re dealing with large numbers of individuals or complex situations. Monetized utilitarianism allows you to keep your happiness calculations

Read More

Is Utilitarianism Is Valid

169 Words | 1 Pages

There are a variety of reasons why utilitarianism is valid because it provides a description of a scoop of philosophies. The consequences of an action is determine whether it is right of wrong according to utilitarianism. For example, if a woman and her kids are in the process of being tackle by an intruder and one of the children decides to stab him or her for the purpose of protection and security. The intruder ends up dead due to home invasion.

Read More

Suzy And Leah Jane Yolen Analysis

506 Words | 3 Pages

In Jane Yolen’s “Suzy and Leah”, Suzy and Leah have very different opinions about one another but soon find out about their similarities. Leah is a German-Jewish refugee who came to the United States to escape Adolf Hitler and the Nazis. After living in a refugee camp for a while, Leah and the other refugee children began to attend Suzy’s school. Suzy is an ordinary American girl. She is walking to the refugee camp near her home with two candy bars and sees the conditions the refugees live in.

Read More

Deontology, Consequentialism, And Virtue Ethics

1040 Words | 5 Pages

It provides an easy to understand guidelines stating that every act has a consequence, whether the consequence is good or bad. The argument against Utilitarianism are: The theory is too subjective and makes it hard to determine when a line should be drawn, some acts have too much a negative complication even for a greater cause that they can’t be done, and at times it might be time consuming and difficult. For example, you can’t calculate every action you

Read More

Essay On Divine Command Theory

1218 Words | 5 Pages

The main principle of utilitarianism is happiness. People who follow this theory strive to fulfill the “ultimate good”. The “ultimate good” is defined as ultimate pleasure with out any pain. It is said that the pleasure can be of any quantity and any quality, but pleasures that are weighted more important are put at a higher level than others that are below it. This ethical theory also states that if society would fully embrace utilitarianism then people would naturally realize their moral standing in the

Read More

Examples Of Utilitarianism

414 Words | 2 Pages

Utilitarianism gives too much opportunity for negative things to be done with people saying what they were doing caused them greater happiness rather than the alternative. Following the Utilitarianism gives people the thought they can do anything as long as pleasure is greater than displeasure. Happiness is the key for this ethical principle. For example, stealing something such as a prescription drug to save a life.

Read More

Utilitarianism In Middle School

534 Words | 3 Pages

An area in my life that I have followed utilitarianism, is when I was choosing who to be friends with in Middle School. When I was in Middle School, I was one of the athletes and because of that, I was fairly popular. I did not have a judgmental personality, so I became friends with whoever I had something in common with. However, since I loved science and mathematics, I had a lot of nerdy and geeky friends. So at lunch time, when I was sitting with my athletic friends, I would see one of my geeky friends sitting by themselves, so I would tell him to come and sit and eat lunch with me.

Read More

John Stuart Mill On Happiness Essay

852 Words | 4 Pages

A man by the name of John Stuart Mill seems to be able to give us some answers to these questions. Mill starts our inquiring journey with defining what utilitarianism stands for. In short he states that it is the construction of utility, which claims that the actions that stimulate happiness in is morally fit and vice versa to be unfit. Happiness is something that we want for

Read More

Deontology Vs Utilitarianism

1515 Words | 7 Pages

The morality of an action is determined by the outcome of that action. At an initial glance, Utilitarianism seems as if it would be a superior way to live a life full of good will, as it is focused on doing the most

Read More

Pros And Cons Of Classical Utilitarianism

503 Words | 3 Pages

Utilitarianism is a very controversial theory. Many people disagree with this idea because it disrupts our personal relationships, it is too demanding, it promotes that the consequences are the only thing that matters, and shows that pleasures are the only things that are important. Classical Utilitarianism is based on three points; that morality of actions are only bases on consequences, the consequences only matter if it creates more or less happiness, and everyone gets equal considerations when it comes to happiness. The classical Utilitarianism was made and defended by three philosophers from 19th century England; John Mill, Jeremy Bentham, and Henry Sidgwick. These people help this theory to be highly influential in the modern era.

Read More

More about Why Utilitarianism Should Be Used As The Base Theory

Related Topics

Open Document