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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Peter Singer asserts that utilitarianism implies a moral obligation to be a vegetarian. Utilitarianism holds that the right actions‚ or what we ought to do‚ are those actions that are expected to produce the best overall consequences‚ provide maximum utility‚ happiness or pleasure and minimize pain and suffering. Utilitarians look at the probable consequences of choices and choose their actions based on whatever they believe will produce the most utility or pleasure. Singer claims that if one is
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Mill’s ethical theory of Utilitarianism. Mill held two theories on utilitarianism‚ a normative and a psychological one. Normative views of Mills’ include his "principle of utility" which says actions are right if they produce the greatest amount of happiness and pleasure and wrong if they cause displeasure and pain. His psychological theory says people want to live in harmony with their fellow man and that they have a basic sensitivity to the needs of others. Utilitarianism is interested in promoting
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Explain Benthams Utiliarianism (30 marks) The theory of utilitarianism was put forward entierly by Jeremy Bentham‚ who wrote about Ethics and Politics. He was a social reformer keen to improve the lives of the working class. Many of the improvements made in the treatments of criminals in the 18th and 19th centuries were the results of Benthems ethics. Bentham believed that which is good is that which equals the greatest sum of pleasure and the least sum of pain. (Hedonism)
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Criticisms of Utilitarianism Though there are many supporters of utilitarianism given the fact that this theory prioritizes the benefits of the happiness and satisfaction of the majority not the minority‚ there are some philosophers and scholar who critique its implications. - Distastefulness: The argument from distaste is often expressed as a suggestion that utilitarianism doesn’t provide enough support for individuals’ rights. It says that just in order to achieve its goal‚ utilitarianism won’t
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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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classification of one’s actions. In Mill’s Utilitarianism‚ he examines what determines an action to be considered right or wrong‚ his own version of the hedonistic utilitarianism argument. He claims that these qualities‚ including the quantity‚ are an important factor in determining‚ when included in the consequences‚ the criteria of an action. The consequences are significant in determining the results of one’s actions. In the argument of utilitarianism‚ if the consequences of an action are good
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Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832) developed his ethical system of utilitarianism around the idea of pleasure. John Stuart Mill (1806-1873) later furthered and many believe he improved Bentham’s theory (Mill is often linked to Rule Utilitarianism) but still followed many of his original ideas. The theory is based on ancient hedonism‚ which pursued physical pleasure and avoided physical pain. Hedonism saw human beings as “Under the governance of two sovereign masters of pain and pleasure.” So a key concept
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the positions based on John Stuart Mill ’s ’Utilitarianism ’ ethical theory‚ and Immanuel Kant ’s ’Categorical Imperative ’ ethical theory. According to Utilitarianism‚ euthanasia can be morally justified‚ whereas according to Kantianism‚ euthanasia is not morally justifiable; but I will argue that neither position provides an adequate resolution to the issue‚ due to the significant flaws that are
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of recreational drug use. And by turning to one of the most influential moral theories‚ utilitarianism‚ I arrive at supporting ethical means founded simply on happiness. Maintaining the intrinsic value of human happiness is one of the most important aspects of universal utilitarianism. Self-determination‚ or the process of self-regulating decisions and actions‚ is another important aspect that utilitarianism concerns itself with. Therefore‚ as human beings‚ we should permit ourselves to the utmost
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