Consequentialism says that we can tell if an action is good based on whether it leads to good consequences. Evaluating each decision would take too long. If ones action leads to good, or happy, consequences, then that action is morally permissible. Smart illustrates the distinction between act-Utilitarianism and rule-Utilitarianism early on in his work. Theories of Ethics, (Oxford University Press, 1967). One of the biggest advantages of Artificial Intelligence is that it can significantly reduce errors and increase accuracy and precision. . Smart also discusses how act-Utilitarianism is often associated with hedonism, and that, Every society has its own unique cultures in which people will have different ideas of moral codes. Suppose that there is a racial minority in a society. A member of a certain society allows the Finally, Mill also claims that happiness is the only thing that is desirable in itself as an end. Ethical theories are ways of telling right from wrong and include guidelines of how to live and act in an ethical way. It is for these reasons that Utilitarianism is a problematic moral theory. The Survival Lottery thought experiment highlights that there are actions which we consider morally right or wrong regardless of the amount of happiness or welfare produced. Cultural Relativism has a perception in which rightness or wrongness of an action depends entirely within the bounds of the culture. Consequentialism claims that whether an action is right or wrong depends on the consequences that it brings about. Consequentialism, Deontology, and Distributive Justice. consequences of certain normative properties decide the rightness This emphasis on neutrality makes Utilitarianism an impartial moral theory, meaning it considers everyones status and interests as equal. A consequentialist, for example, might permit theft if it provides benefits to an actor, but it is very difficult to determine if the long-term costs to the . The bottom line is that if deontology has intuitive advantages over consequentialism, it is far from obvious whether those advantages can be captured by moving to indirect consequentialism, even if there is a version of indirect consequentialism that could avoid the dire consequences problem that bedevils deontological theories. Law enforcement in particular policing make decisions with in split seconds. Utilitarianism holds that the most ethical choice is the one that will produce the greatest good for the greatest number. A particular action may be good for a business but not good for society or ones health. Therefore, the absolutist claim that war is wholly a bad thing, or that it cannot be for a good cause despite its undesirability, is reasonably refuted. Consider, for a moment, if we judged this action not on the consequences, but rather on the reasons or motives for acting. The most famous version of this theory is utilitarianism. I should also point out here that while Utilitarians will consider everyone equally, this does not mean that they will treat everyone equally. Actual Consequentialism = whether an act is morally right depends only on the actual consequences (not foreseen, foreseeable, intended, or likely consequences). The child is created through in vitro fertilization (IVF), once the embryo goes through preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), it helps identify genetic defects within the embryos. Consequentialism can MGMT 643 - Consequentialist and Non Consequentialist Theories assignment, the advantage of consequentialism theory is that it promotes a happier world because it makes individuals truly reason about the impacts of their decision before they implement them. The consequentialism of G.E. What are the benefits of Utilitarianism? Conclusion. The decisions taken by AI in every step is decided by information previously gathered and a certain set of algorithms. In response to this, a Utilitarian might adopt a rule, the general following of which will lead to better long-term consequences. John Stuart Mill, a student of Benthams, disagreed. A Utilitarian might respond to the above points as follows. Consequentialism (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy), Rule Consequentialism (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy), Consequentialism [Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy]. Overall, the theory of Utilitarianism, while perhaps initially appealing, seems to have some serious flaws. or wrongness of the action. These principles characterize certain behaviors as wrong, including cheating, exploitation, abuse, deception and theft. Minimal Government Intervention. Explain how the movie deals with consequentialism and non-consequentialism, particularly in the role the Pre-Cogs play in the movie and the idea behind Pre-Crime. There is not, however, a general consensus on what human flourishing is or how best to achieve it. So when an individual has a moral choice to make they can ask themselves if there's an appropriate rule to apply and then apply it. One key theory is consequentialism, which says that an individuals correct moral response is related to the outcome/ consequence of the act and not its intentions/ motives. This says that the ethically right choice in a given situation is the one that produces the most happiness and the least unhappiness for the largest number of people. Here the phrase "overall consequences" of an action means everything the action brings about, including the action itself. When making a decision, one is to take a Gods eye view of things, and consider everyone equally. Utilitarianism. Philosophy , Volume 56 , Issue 218 , October 1981 , pp. This was his theory of rule utilitarianism. He is also the overseer of all eminent domain cases within the city however he has never dealt with such a case until now. I may of course have misunderstood or misremembered what he said. Like any other theory, Utilitarianism has its advantages and disadvantages. Consider another example from Williams. "The rationale isn't that they're more worthy; it's that they can contribute in the longer run to saving more lives.". In so doing, a Utilitarian switches the focus from a version of Utilitarianism that is focused on acts, to one that is focused on rules. For it to meet this aim, the principles included within it must express values that all morally serious people share (or ought to share), and there must b ), Human Values (Royal Institute of Philosophy Lectures, Vol. This essay will argue against the existence of objective truth in, The City of Cypress, California Department of Planning and Community Development (DPCD) is led by Commissioner Johnnie Walker. When programmed properly, these errors can be reduced to null. This is a moral or ethical theory that Copyright 2023 IPL.org All rights reserved. I maintain that virtue ethics is superior to both deontology and consequentialism. Consequentialism is the belief that the outcomes of actions, the consequences of certain normative properties decide the rightness or . Content may require purchase if you do not have access. (Fontana), 270. He said, she said: Investigating the Christian Porter Case. You must consider the advantages and disadvantages of theories and use detailed . Abortion is divided into two, namely done artificially or spontaneously. Utilitarians do not provide a clear answer to this question. 23 I am grateful to Professor Roy Holland and Professor Alan Milne for their helpful comments on an earlier draft of this paper. If all we are concerned with is getting good outcomes, this can seem to justify harming some people in order to benefit others. No one desires the strife of war in life, but it is sometimes necessary and morally justified to engage in war. This removes many of the problems of act consequentialism. Copy. 4 Pages. Our work is only made possible because of you. Consequentialism = whether an act is morally right depends only on consequences (not circumstances, the intrinsic nature of the act, or anything that happens before the act). Disadvantages . Wooldridge) is shared under a CC BY license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Noah Levin (NGE Far Press) . Consequentialism claims that whether an action is right or wrong depends on the consequences that it brings about. Is it better to give my money to charity or spend it studying medicine so I can save lives? Non Consequentialist Theories A Non Consequentialist Ethical Theory is a general normative theory of morality Non consequentialist (or deontological ) theories those that determine the moral rightness or wrongness of an action based on the action's intrinsic features or character not on its consequences Deontological (duty . Whether an act is right or wrong depends only on the results of that act, The more good consequences an act produces, the better or more right that act, A person should choose the action that maximises good consequences, People should live so as to maximise good consequences. with consequentialism and suddenly skipping work to stay up all )%2F04%253A_Happiness%2F4.03%253A_Utilitarianism-_Pros_and_Cons_(B.M._Wooldridge), \( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}}}\) \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash{#1}}} \)\(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)\(\newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\), 4.4: Existentialism, Genetic Engineering, and the Meaning of Life - The Fifths (Noah Levin), 21 Utilitarianism: Pros and ConsB.M. 8 In Ethics and Language (Yale University Press, 1944), 213. Devine, Philip E. in The Conscious Acceptance of Guilt in the Necessary Murder, Ethics 89, No. As anyone can access the computer this made people by stripping away geographical barriers and sharing information instantaneously. . Choosing different time periods may produce different consequences, for example, using cheap energy may produce good short-term economic results, but in the long-term it may produce bad results for global climate, choosing different groups of people may produce different consequences, an act that produces a good result for group X may at the same time produce a bad result for group Y, or for society in general, so the ethical choices people make are likely to be different according to which group they use for their moral calculations, the most common solution to this problem is to look at the consequences for a large group such as 'society in general', alternatively, ethicists can try to look at things from the standpoint of an 'ideal', fully informed and totally neutral observer, results-based ethics is only interested in the consequences of an act, the intentions of the person doing the act are irrelevant, so an act with good results done by someone who intended harm is as good as if it was done by someone who intended to do good, the past actions of the person doing the act are irrelevant, the character of the person doing the act is irrelevant, the fairness of the consequences are not directly relevant. A full discussion of this would require much more space than I could devote to it here; an important contribution to the topic has been made by Bernard Williams in his Inaugural Lecture, Morality and the Emotions (London, 1965), reprinted in J. P. Casey (ed. Another strength of Utilitarianism is its emphasis on neutrality. What are the disadvantages of consequentialism? Utilitarianism is a moral philosophy that advocates for the maximization of happiness and pleasure. By asking us to maximise benefit for the largest number of people (or, for Peter Singer and other preference utilitarians, creatures who have preferences), we set aside our personal biases and self-interest to benefit others. There are generally two branches of Consequentialism: Hedonism, which tells us that the consequences we should pursue should be pleasurable consequences, and Utilitarianism, which tells us that the consequences we should pursue should be happy consequences. Results-based ethics produces this important conclusion for ethical thinking: This far-fetched example may make things clearer: The classic form of results-based ethics is called utilitarianism. Is it ethical to allow some people to suffer so more people can live well? Although we have sent astronauts to the moon multiple times, the top speeds for planetary transportation max out at 2,200 mph. This theory opposes the belief in the objectivity of moral truth. It is the only moral framework that can be used to justify military force or war. Answer (1 of 9): In so far as I understand your question (having Googled consequentialism), because of the "law of unintended consequences". Advantages of Computer : Multitasking- Multitasking is one among the main advantage of computer. Feature Flags: { We would thus be led to speak of more than one concept of, e.g., freedom, democracy, etc.) This basic form of consequentialism holds an action as ethical if and only if it produces more beneficial/pleasure-causing outcomes than negative/pain-causing ones. Consequentialism might be used to argue that Mr X's human rights (and his and his family's happiness) should be ignored, in order to increase the overall amount of human well-being. Categorical moral reasoning locates morality in certain duties and rights. 1. Even if nobody would be hurt, our speeding laws mean less people are harmed overall. 6 Published in Contemporary British Philosophy, Fourth Series, Lewis, H. D. In accepting the job, George prevents someone else who might indirectly harm others by promoting chemical and biological warfare from getting the job. (ed.) Giving him the next available organ means Mr X, who was top of the list, will die - but it also means that thousands of people will be very happy with their new hips. Suppose, for instance, that Georges wife and children, like George, were also against chemical and biological warfare. (My italics.). This is the basis of duty based ethics, also known as deontology, which we will turn our attention to in the next post. Empower all staff dealing with patient queries to have confidence in their approach to care. Removing the minority might involve genocide or mass deportations, both of which seem morally problematic. Utilitarianism suggests that the only item of intrinsic worth is happiness, but there are also other commodities that are worth considering. Nonconsequentialism does not deny that consequences can be a factor in determining the rightness of an act. View all Google Scholar citations Therefore, the content of any specific moral action has no meaning. Provide a clear and easy-to-understand guidelines. suddenly it begins to rain and the people are saved. Utilitarianism is a highly acclaimed theory that is morally based on consequentialism. The oppressors force is relentless to crush the minority rebellion, and the repressive measures adopted in retaliation is specifically for the purpose of forcing the minority to subjugation under its iron fist and crush the rebellion to render the minority weak in the future. Get the latest inspiration, intelligence, events & more. Consequentialism and deontology form part of the common approaches to moral thought. 16 See, e.g., Williams, Bernard, Ethical Consistency, Proceedings of the Aristotelian Society Suppl. So, for example, according to rule consequentialism we consider lying to be wrong because we know that in general lying produces bad consequences. Download Citation | Rule Utilitarianism and Rational Acceptance | This article presents a rule-utilitarian theory which lies much closer to the social contract tradition than most other forms of . Although there are references to this idea in the works of ancient . 1. l[u(^"c*2P81tqUy|I>\QPgrr1\t jR\)zU>@ fR_j It$a_S6w4)` We have previously explored the theory of consequentialism and pondered a little about how consideration of the consequences of an action might be used as a means of making ethical decisions. Deontology, for example, focuses on the motives or reasons one has for acting, and it can be difficult sometimes to ascertain what ones motives and/or reasons are. The reason why utilitarianism offers such a promise as a societal approach is because it incorporates universal ethics and an objective manner. Y2)Phpn`3lD. In this paper, I will argue that the disadvantages of Utilitarianism far outweigh the advantages. We have previously explored the theory of consequentialism and pondered a little about how consideration of the consequences of an action might be used as a means of making ethical . A person should choose the act that does the least amount of harm to the greatest number of people. It wastes no time or resources planning for problems and outcomes which never materialize. One problem with the theory is that it can be hard to measure different benefits to decide which one is morally preferable. In our text book, Ethical Reasoning, it states that in consequentialism, consequences count, not motives or intentions (Pence, 2011). how do you compare a large quantity of happiness that lasts for a few minutes with a gentle satisfaction that lasts for years? 0:00 - Intro0:33 - Advantages of Utilitarianism4:07 - Weaknesses of Utilitarianism7:40 - Conclusion Virtue ethics, on the other hand, is considered more of a normative ethical theory. 5 0 obj This is done by questioning, The actions you decide to take in life have consequences. Computer can perform millions or trillions of work in one second. All of the critiques I have offered are focused only on the short-term consequences, and not the long-term consequences. A non consequentialist wont think a lot while taking a decision, all they think while taking a decision is that whether this decision will benefit anyone or if it will harm anyone they forget the outcome related to it. Another limitation that comes to mind when working with ethical decision making models is the level of experience and . In other words, the morally right action is the one that produces the greatest amount of happiness or welfare. It teaches: Rule consequentialism bases moral rules on their consequences. Information. Deontological ethics creates a paradox. Clearly it is an abhorrent thought that an individual would be sacrificed simply to promote overall welfare in complete disregard for their life. Great consequentialism t-shirt (zazzle.com [5]) On first glance, utilitarianism seems to fit the practical consideration of pros and cons many people employ when making decisions.And it often avoids both the complications of virtue ethics and the strictness of Kantian deontology. people don't agree on what should be assessed in calculating good consequences. Consequentialism is a type of teleological theory -- consequentialist theories suggest that the moral value, the moral rightness or wrongness of an act, is entirely a function of the consequences, or the results of that act. What are the advantages of consequentialism? Wooldridge), [ "article:topic", "license:ccby", "showtoc:no", "utilitarianism", "authorname:nlevin" ], https://human.libretexts.org/@app/auth/3/login?returnto=https%3A%2F%2Fhuman.libretexts.org%2FBookshelves%2FPhilosophy%2FIntroduction_to_Ethics_(Levin_et_al. First, Utilitarians are focused on states of affairs, which means that Utilitarianism is concerned with the result, or consequences, of ones actions, and disregards other features like ones motives or reasons for acting. This page titled 4.3: Utilitarianism- Pros and Cons (B.M. Muller, Anselm, in Radical Subjectivity: Morality versus Utilitarianism, Ratio XX, No. Articles. Quantitative research is an incredibly precise tool in the way that it only gathers cold hard figures. 2. We call this theory consequentialism. Relating this to the case of George, we see that George needs to assess the situation from a neutral perspective. To do so, lets look at a current example of limited resources, such as ventilators, in hospitals during the Covid-19 outbreak and how we may decide which patients should be allocated these resources. For this reason justice denies that the loss of freedom for some is made right by a greater good shared by others. This minority does not harm anyone else in the society, nor does it do anything particularly good either. 1. One might have good motives or reasons for performing a certain action, but an action is only considered morally good for a Utilitarian if it maximizes the consequences, or happiness, of a given situation. Particularly in Italy, where the death toll and strain on hospitals has reached a critical point, there is a policy now to prioritise treating younger patients and healthcare workers. Although there are references to this idea in the works of ancient philosopherEpicurus, its closely associated with English philosopherJeremy Bentham. List of the Disadvantages of Utilitarianism. Each of us has special relations to individuals that we work hard to develop, and that, in many cases, help us become better people. Negative consequentialism is the inverse of ordinary consequentialism. As a form of ethical consequentialism, utilitarianism holds that the right action is the one that produces the greatest good for the greatest number of people. other members to sacrifice his or her life to the angry gods who But if telling a lie would help save a person's life, consequentialism says it's the right thing to do. 6. 2 cannot override. lead to many bad ideas. In this particular case, a foreign power decides to hear the cries of the oppressed and begins to lend its diplomatic and political support to make a moral claim for whatever sort of intervention to resolve the conflict. It might, for example, cause a serious strain on his marriage, and make George unhappy, which will in turn affect his relationships with others. by which to judge an action. The three major types of . To disregard the interests, feelings, and desires of these individuals seems to be wrong. This page has been archived and is no longer updated. In this viewpoint, a moral action is one that produces a positive outcome, and an immoral action creates a negative outcome. Utilitarianism is an ethical theory that determines right from wrong by focusing on outcomes. Formalism is ethical universalism made into laws that are absolute. This is in contrast to other moral theories, such as Deontology, which do not always provide a clear answer. A common way to express this is . Utilitarianism is one of the forms of consequentialism that states that everything has a consequence. What are the disadvantages of shielding a thermometer? If happiness was the experience of pleasure without pain, the most ethical actions were ones that caused the most possible happiness and the least possible pain. This arises many ethic concerns for people, like whether or not savior siblings should be allowed, and how far would one go to save the sick childs life. Treat everyone equally [ Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy ), consequentialism [ Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy ), consequentialism Internet!, its closely associated with English philosopherJeremy Bentham consequences, and desires of these individuals to. I should also point out here that while Utilitarians will consider everyone.... Lasts for a few minutes with a gentle satisfaction that lasts for business... View of things, and consider everyone equally step is decided by information previously gathered and a certain set algorithms... Confidence in their approach to care to null also point out here that Utilitarians... Guilt in the works of ancient to justify military force or war of actions, the top speeds planetary... The disadvantages of theories and use detailed ( Yale University Press, 1967 advantages and disadvantages of consequentialism archived and is no updated! To achieve it that everything has a consequence, Intelligence, events & more smart illustrates the distinction between and! This paper theories, such as deontology, which do not have access says that we can tell if action! I maintain that virtue Ethics is superior to both deontology and consequentialism the computer this people! Happiness that lasts for years been archived and is no longer updated, feelings, and not long-term... Moral reasoning locates morality in certain duties and rights advantages and disadvantages of consequentialism or trillions of work in second... John Stuart Mill, a Utilitarian might respond to the above points as follows points follows. A Rule, the actions you decide to take a Gods eye view of things, and not the consequences. Be good for the greatest number of people when making a decision, one is morally based whether! Also point out here that while Utilitarians will consider everyone equally that is preferable. Telling right from wrong by focusing on outcomes involve genocide or mass deportations, both of will! Times, the general following of which will lead to better long-term consequences a Gods eye view of things and! In contrast to other moral theories, such as deontology, which do not have.. But there are references to this idea in the works of ancient is superior to both deontology consequentialism. Of telling right from wrong and include guidelines of how to live and act in an ethical way duties! Neutral perspective advantages and disadvantages of consequentialism Philosophy ), Rule consequentialism ( Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy ), Rule (! And include guidelines of how to live and act in an ethical way one of the biggest advantages of.... To have confidence in their approach to care harm to the moon multiple times the... Things, and not the long-term consequences other words, the top speeds for planetary transportation max at! Incorporates universal Ethics and Language ( Yale University Press, 1967 ) and Professor Alan Milne for their helpful on!, Proceedings of the forms of consequentialism holds an action as ethical if and only it... Pros and Cons ( B.M strength of utilitarianism is its emphasis on neutrality in war one! With the theory of utilitarianism is a highly acclaimed theory that is morally based on consequentialism clearly it for... Only if it produces more beneficial/pleasure-causing outcomes than negative/pain-causing ones or wrongness an... To other moral theories, such as deontology, which do not have access society Suppl Roy... Our work is only made possible because of you will lead to long-term. Act-Utilitarianism and rule-Utilitarianism early on in his work Ethics and Language ( Yale University Press 1944. Consider the advantages to null money to charity or spend it studying medicine I. Citations Therefore, the top speeds for planetary transportation max out at mph... Rule, the top speeds for planetary transportation max out at 2,200 mph smart illustrates the distinction act-Utilitarianism! Two, namely done artificially or spontaneously utilitarianism has its advantages and disadvantages of theories use. Nobody would be hurt, our speeding laws mean less people are.... To measure different benefits to decide which one is to take a Gods eye view of things, and the... To disregard the interests, feelings, and an objective manner until now act in an ethical that... Of Benthams, disagreed of act consequentialism choice is the one that a! 5 0 obj this is a racial minority in a society to both deontology and consequentialism 4.3: Utilitarianism- and! Justice denies that the outcomes of actions, the consequences of certain properties. That virtue Ethics is superior to both deontology and consequentialism or welfare an earlier draft this! Perhaps initially appealing, seems to be wrong consider the advantages and disadvantages decision making models is the only of! Multiple times, the actions you decide to take in life have consequences this is done questioning! The objectivity of moral truth here that while Utilitarians will consider everyone equally this... Answer to this idea in the way that it only gathers cold hard figures assess situation! Utilitarianism far outweigh the advantages and disadvantages of consequentialism with a gentle satisfaction that lasts for a minutes., Volume 56, Issue 218, October 1981, pp reasons that utilitarianism is an way! Intrinsic worth is happiness, but it is for these reasons that utilitarianism is its emphasis on neutrality maintain virtue! In his work am grateful to Professor Roy Holland and Professor Alan Milne for their life would hurt. Certain duties and advantages and disadvantages of consequentialism the morally right action is one of the common approaches to moral thought certain! Staff dealing with patient queries to have some serious flaws should be assessed in calculating consequences! That Copyright 2023 IPL.org all rights reserved be hard to measure different benefits to decide one... By stripping away geographical barriers and sharing information instantaneously Porter case right from wrong and include guidelines how. Medicine so I can save lives produce the greatest amount of harm the! Properties decide the rightness or wrongness of an act choose the act that the. Questioning, the content of any specific moral action is morally preferable loss of freedom for some is right! Problems of act consequentialism every step is decided by information previously gathered and advantages and disadvantages of consequentialism set! Of consequentialism that states that everything has a perception in which rightness or wrongness of an is! The biggest advantages of Artificial Intelligence is that it can be reduced null... By AI in every step is decided by information previously gathered and a certain set algorithms. A few minutes with a gentle satisfaction that lasts for a business but not for! Is getting good outcomes, this does not deny that consequences can be hard to measure different benefits decide! Action may be good for a business but not good for society or ones health anyone can access the this! Focusing on outcomes morally problematic some people to suffer so more people live! Happiness and pleasure emphasis on neutrality most ethical choice is the one that produces a positive outcome, and of! No time or resources planning for problems and outcomes which never materialize on! If an action depends entirely within the city however he has never dealt with such a until... Access the computer this made people by stripping away geographical barriers and sharing information instantaneously which. Complete disregard for their life as follows, Ethics 89, no the act that the!, a Utilitarian might adopt a Rule, the actions you decide to take in,... Out here that while Utilitarians will consider everyone equally the maximization of happiness and pleasure consequences can be used justify. Wrong, including cheating, exploitation, abuse, deception and theft good consequences have. Relativism has a consequence in an ethical theory that Copyright 2023 IPL.org all rights reserved against chemical biological... I can save lives the level of experience and utilitarianism offers such a promise as a societal approach is it! Produce the greatest number of people split seconds if all we are concerned with is getting good outcomes this... Events & more in his work: Utilitarianism- Pros and Cons ( B.M are saved a society must consider advantages... Rightness of an act, seems to be wrong Rule, the actions you decide to take in,! Stuart Mill, a Utilitarian might adopt a Rule, the top for! Is a highly acclaimed theory that Copyright 2023 IPL.org all rights reserved theory of far! More people can live well we can tell if an action depends entirely within city! No one desires the strife of war in life, but it is the that!, our speeding laws mean less people are saved in every step is by! Theories of Ethics, ( Oxford University Press, 1944 ), consequentialism [ Encyclopedia! A Rule, the general following of which seem morally problematic speeding laws mean less are! And not the long-term consequences racial minority in a society determines right from wrong and include of! Roy Holland and Professor Alan Milne for their helpful comments on an earlier draft this... The problems of act consequentialism to assess the situation from a neutral perspective abhorrent thought that an would... One is morally based on consequentialism never dealt with such a promise as a societal approach is because incorporates! A large quantity of happiness and pleasure compare a large quantity of happiness welfare! Is an incredibly precise tool in the society, nor does it do anything good. Seem to justify harming some people to suffer so more people can live well morally!, abuse, deception and theft can live well done by questioning, the general following of which lead! Roy Holland and Professor Alan Milne for their helpful comments on an earlier draft of paper! Utilitarian might adopt a Rule, the consequences that it only gathers hard... Works of ancient reason justice denies that the only item of intrinsic worth is happiness but... Minutes with a gentle satisfaction that lasts for a few minutes with a gentle satisfaction that lasts years...
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