The prominant criticism of Utilitarianism is that it is extremely hard to predict the results of an action. The outcomes of all situations are hard to predict‚ so how can we possibly apply the rule of the greatest happiness for the greatest number if we do not know who will benefit most? It is also difficult to decide whether an outcome is morally good or bad. People have contrasting opinions on what they think is right or wrong and it depends on the individual who is making the decision. This causes
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In his piece‚ “Extreme and Restricted Utilitarianism” J. J. C. Smart illustrated just how different extreme utilitarianism and restricted utilitarianism are from each other and which one is more realistic to follow. Smart developed this idea by supplying his readers with various examples on each side and explaining them thoroughly. Smart’s objective from presenting this piece is to show just how unreasonable restricted utilitarianism is in most‚ if not all situations. He also explains why people
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Sabina Leng Outline the important features of utilitarianism (21 marks) The theory of utilitarianism determines the rightness or wrongness of an action by its consequence. The theory uses a teleological approach where it primarily focuses on the amount of pain or pleasure created as the result of a given action. As such‚ it moves beyond the scope of one’s own interests and takes into account the interests of others. Utilitarianism is a relativist system of which most versions do not set out
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Justice. Utilitarianism revolves around the concept of “the end justifies the means.” It believes that theoutcomes as a result of an action have a greater value compared to the latter. It also states that the most ethical thing to do is to take advantage of happiness for the good of the society. In the United States‚ controversy over capital punishment began in colonial
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Mill’s Utilitarianism 1. The main topic discussed in Mill’s for is obviously Utilitarianism and his own interpretation of the definition and what it means. Mill also talks about the misconception people have about utilitarianism and the basis behind his theory. Mill interprets utilitarianism and describes it as happiness and pleasure. He describes how people seek happiness with only the absence of pain. Mill’s theory also goes on the dictate that there are different levels of happiness and it can
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The Lifeboat Case and Utilitarianism Imagine that four men are placed in a life or death situation. They are stranded in a boat in the middle of the ocean with nothing to eat for nourishment. In a severely weakened state‚ the men decide that for the benefit of the majority they will draw lots and eat whoever draws the shortest; one of the men refuses to draw. The next day‚ in spite of the lottery‚ the youngest boy is killed and fed on by the other men. The argument proposed to justify their actions
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Thakral Essay Question: Outline one common objection to utilitarianism. Do utilitarians have an adequate reply to that objection? Essay Title: An Adequate‚ Utilitarian Response to the Utility Monster I hereby declare that the attached piece of written work is my own work and that I have not reproduced‚ without acknowledgment‚ the work of another. In this paper‚ I will refute the utility monster objection to utilitarianism by showing that it trades on questionable presuppositions
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"Utilitarianism is the best approach to extra marital sex" Extramarital sex occurs when a married person engages in sexual activity with someone other than their marriage partner‚ this would also be known as infidelity or audltary which had the consequence of being stonned to death in the times of Jesus " If a man commits adultery with another man’s wife-with the wife of his neighbour-both the adulterer and the adulteress must be put to death. (Leviticus 20:10). The negative association with sex
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Utilitarianism Valeria Ornelas Grand Canyon University: PHI 305 10/30/14 John Stuart Mill’s Moral Theory John Stuart Mill‚ a philosopher and political economist‚ is known today as one of the most influential sponsors for Utilitarianism. His moral theory tends to go along with a “Utilitarian rubric” (Fitzpatrick‚ 2006) and thus holds that the theory is based on how to define right and wrong in terms of happiness. For Mill‚ “actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness‚ wrong
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I will argue for the truth of utilitarianism. In my opinion‚ the most interesting version of utilitarianism is hedonistic utilitarianism. It is the most interesting because it defies logic and rationale in favor of impulsion decision making. Hedonistic utilitarianism is the most interesting version because it is tied more intrinsically into the wellbeing of an organism‚ specifically humans‚ than any other alternatives of utilitarianism. Other forms of utilitarianism are wide-ranging and in my opinion
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