Preview

Pros And Cons Of The Greatest Happiness Principle

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
270 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Pros And Cons Of The Greatest Happiness Principle
The Greatest Happiness principle in general is good, but it has many flaws as any ethical systems does. Due to our inability to perfectly predict the future according to our actions (assuming he future is capable of being altered with our actions), the results we desire are capable of, and often do, fall short of what was intended. If unforeseen parameters caused all of our actions to backfire, even though we were attempting to act in accordance with Utilitarianism, we would all be considered immoral as our results only caused pain. If this happened to everyone in the entire world, then no man could be considered moral. The Greatest Happiness principle also allows for us to cause pain to others as long as a majority of the people become
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    The Pros And Cons Of Communism
    • 231 Words
    • 1 Page

    The Pros And Cons Of Communism

    An anti-communist event that I wouldn’t have supported, would be McCarthyism. An unfamiliar senator from Wisconsin, Joseph McCarthy, materialized as the national pursuer of communists and uncovering hidden communists in the government. Shortly after assuming his position as Senate of the state, he released the information that he had obtained a list of 205 communists, that held positions in the State Department. The State Department recognized that these claims were preposterous, due to the fact that McCarthy's numbers kept fluctuating, he never named a single communist soul in the State Department. Another fact that the State Department didn’t believe his is that a little before he accused people of being a communist, because prior to that…

    • 231 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Xmgt/216 Week One Appendix B
    • 449 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Xmgt/216 Week One Appendix B

    “A system of ethics according to which the rightness or wrongness of an action should be judged by its consequences. The goal of utilitarian ethics is to promote the greatest happiness for the greatest number” ("Define Utilitarianism," 2005). Utilitarianism is making a decision that benefits the most amount of people/society.…

    • 449 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Casablanca Good And Evil Research Paper
    • 1183 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Casablanca Good And Evil Research Paper

    Utilitarianism or the greatest happiness principle, is mainly characterized by happiness and consequentialism. The measure of good and evil is balanced between individual 's happiness and the happiness of the community. (Sommers & Sommers, 2013) If you treat others how you wish to be treated, you are acting in the greater good for the most amounts of people, and in doing so, you are acting with morals. To act selfishly, you are acting morally wrong. This theory relies on producing the greatest amount of happiness. (Sommers & Sommers, 2013)…

    • 1183 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Ethics Case Study: The Plight Of Dr. Ethos
    • 1741 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Ethics Case Study: The Plight Of Dr. Ethos

    “ The ‘greatest happiness principle’ holds that actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness” (Mill p. 7). Actions only hold moral worth if the consequences are favorable on a grand scale. In utilitarianism actions are evaluated, not people which brings about the “agent neutral” concept. Mill stated ‘the utilitarian standard of what is right in conduct is not the agent’s own happiness but that of all concerned…as between his own happiness and that of others, utilitarianism requires him to be as strictly impartial as a disinterested benevolent spectator.’…

    • 1741 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Eth/316 Ethics And Social Responsibility Research Paper
    • 517 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Eth/316 Ethics And Social Responsibility Research Paper

    Utilitarianism revolves around the concept of “the end justifies the means.” It believes that outcomes as a result of an action have a greater value compared to the latter, the morally right action is the action that produces the most good. It also states that the most ethical thing to do is to take advantage of happiness for the good of the society. This normative theory considers the overall good for all people and not just a single person.…

    • 517 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Happiness Hypothesis 'And Haidt's Stronger'
    • 922 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The Happiness Hypothesis 'And Haidt's Stronger'

    Kanye West’s 2007 hit song, “Stronger” uses Friedrich Nietzsche’s philosophy, “That which does not kill us makes us stronger”. In his novel, The Happiness Hypothesis, Jonathan Haidt states his hypothesis that people must endure all the hardships of life in order to grow in all aspects. I agree with both Nietzsche and Haidt that through perseverance of all difficulties that occur in life, we can develop a stronger physical, social, mental, and emotional state. I find Haidt’s suggestion interesting because many hardships I have endured and am continuing to endure, prove his suggestion valid.…

    • 922 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Pros And Cons Of Wellbeing
    • 421 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Pros And Cons Of Wellbeing

    Have you ever had the rush of going out at the center of the night?…

    • 421 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Pros And Cons Of Utilitarianism
    • 1337 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Pros And Cons Of Utilitarianism

    On this topic of gay marriage I’ve chosen the two ethical theories of utilitarianism and the Kantian ethics theory. On the pro side the utilitarianism theory plays a huge role when referring to this topic. Some may argue that it is constitutional and some may say that it just isn’t the right thing to do in this country. With this theory the actions are said to be judged in terms of promotion of human happiness. If someone is happy why it should matter what the law or government thinks. It’s important in addition with this topic because gay marriage is something that has been going on for a couple years now. The news and media has made it obvious, and with this argument there are two sides. Should gay marriage be acted upon as something normal…

    • 1337 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Aristotle's Argument Against Utilitarianism
    • 443 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Aristotle's Argument Against Utilitarianism

    Utilitarianism is an ethical philosophy which seeks to maximize well-being for the largest amount of people. This means that if you can secure pleasure at no moral cost, you should do so. It also means that if you can prevent displeasure for others without sacrificing anything of equal moral value, you should. In Utilitarianism the key is the well-being for the entire population.…

    • 443 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Positive Utiliraianism Essay Example
    • 618 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Positive Utiliraianism Essay Example

    Therefore, a positive utilitarian will say we should aim simply to increase the happiness of all those affected by our actions.…

    • 618 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    John Stuart Mill Just And Unjust
    • 1386 Words
    • 6 Pages

    John Stuart Mill Just And Unjust

    With this general happiness for everyone’s well-being, a persons priority or rights can’t take a lead or be more important over the general happiness of everybody (chapter II, p.17). This agrees with Aristotle’s, that the political functioning in a society through virtuous character are to benefit the community. Mill argues against Aristotle by claiming that because having security is the definitive right that is deserved by all people through law, certain actions, such as torture, are just in order to ensure that a person has security (Chapter 5, p.54). With this being said Utilitarianism follows a concept that is focused on the general happiness of everyone in the community, but also the happiness that comes to them through security. Mill states that there are certain qualities that show justice and injustice, and some of these qualities are that it is unjust for a person to be deprived of their legal and moral rights, but it is just that everybody should get what they deserve. According to this, torture of a person, can be justified because it will overall give people assurance of security and happiness. But, it is also unjust because it violates a person’s moral and legal rights. This is where the General Happiness Principle comes into play. The Greatest Happiness Principle holds that actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness and wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness, which is pain (Chapter 2, p. 7). Happiness is the absence of pain or freedom of pain, which is the only thing that should be desirable as an end and people will always choose the end that is overall more desirable in pleasure (Chapter 2, p. 8). Mill clearly states, “…laws and social arrangements should place the happiness or the interest of…

    • 1386 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Assess the claim that moral truth is based on natural facts.
    • 2399 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Assess the claim that moral truth is based on natural facts.

    Classical utilitarianism therefore needs to argue, either that maximising happiness for all is an "enlightened act of self interest", or that through natural…

    • 2399 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Utilitarianism Classical Utilitarianism
    • 996 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Utilitarianism Classical Utilitarianism

    Classical Utilitarianism is a moral philosophy, which was developed in 19th century England by Jeremy Bentham, John Stuart Mill and Henry Sidgwick. The essential feature a utilitarian reside in, is the notion that an action is right if it produces the most amount of happiness well limiting suffering. Utilitarianism focuses solely on the consequences of the action, in an attempt to bring about the most happiness from each situation, well ensuring everybody’s happiness is equally considered.…

    • 996 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Pros And Cons Of The Perfect Society
    • 599 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Pros And Cons Of The Perfect Society

    My perfect society would be a 100 degree island, with no drama, stress or money issues. In The Giver, they have no feelings, worries or choices. It’s supposed to be “The Perfect Society,” but it’s not. In this novel, limiting choices and feelings caused their society to be a deterioration over our society today, because choices help create who you are as a person and without feelings the world would be bland and boring.…

    • 599 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The Lifeboat Case And Utilitarianism
    • 583 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The Lifeboat Case And Utilitarianism

    Utilitarianism is a theory of justice whose highest principle is to maximize happiness and utility: “The basic idea of utilitarianism is simple: the right thing to do is what produces the most good” (Mill, 15). The “most good” can be understood in terms of happiness, or the greater amount of pleasure than of pain. Therefore, utilitarians measure the consequences of actions by how much the results bring happiness to the greatest amount of people. The best alternative to any situation is the one that produces the greatest net utility. According to John Stuart Mill, “”Utility” or the “greatest happiness principle” holds that actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness; wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness” (16). Therefore, whatever produces the most good is considered to be just.…

    • 583 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More

Related Topics