Utilitarianism is based on the consequences resulting from actions. Moral actions solely rely on the resulting consequences. Pleasures vary regarding quality and quantity. However, utilitarianism theory gives the quality aspect an upper hand. “Human beings are not satisfied with pleasures they have because they consider them to be of low quality” (Rosen, 2005.…
The most recent Presidential election in the United States recently came to a wrap, widely being considered one of the most ridiculous elections of all time. When it was announced that the two Presidential finalists were Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, people all around the world were shocked. With Donald Trump having no experience in politics, and Hillary Clinton previously having been in a political position, but landing herself in hot water for deleting thousands of emails, it seemed that America was almost certainly doomed. With the controversial nature of the candidates, many America citizens decided to remove themselves from the equation completely by not voting at all. If I was an American citizen, I would have done the same thing.…
It is not always permissible to harm a smaller number of people to prevent harm to a large number of people. There are many different scenarios that can be used to provided evidence as to why the answer could be yes or no. I justify my answer with ethical logic and emotional appeal. If I am driving in a car and my brakes won’t work and I am about to hit a minivan full of 12 people. I can choose to hit the van or swerve and hit and kill a mother and her newborn child on the sidewalk.…
Among the three ethical theories studied in class, the utilitarian theory can be used in explaining ethical implications of Face Recognition technology. Chonko, Larry (1-5) describes various ethical theories. However, Chonko Larry (2) asserts that utilitarian ethical theory is based on the ability of an individual to predict the significance of an action. Action in this case study is using Facial Recognition technology in iPhone X. According to the theory, an option which results in the greatest benefit to most individuals is the one who is ethically right and correct.…
ESSAY PLAN Paragraph 1: Introduction • Utilitarianism as a political theory o ‘Morally right act/policy is that which procedures the greatest happiness’ (Kymlicka 2002, p. 10) • Best way to determine morally right act/policy: • Consequences produced from ones actions – ‘consequentialism’ • Encourages maximizing this overall good • Can be viewed as an exhaustive moral theory o Will focus on utilitarianism as a ‘political morality’ • Outline of essay Paragraph 2: Overview of utilitarianism…
Stealing to survive How would a utilitarian respond to the dilemma of stealing to survive? Utilitarianism is a normative theory and a teleological approach to morality. The theory states that motives do not matter and that the consequences are the only thing that should make you carry out an act. The foundation of utilitarianism is the Greatest Happiness Principle which has three sections.…
Utilitarianism: Is It Right or Wrong How We do Things to make us Happy? Utilitarianism is the actions that are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness and wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness, or pain. By being happy, it is the intended pleasure and the absence of pain and by being unhappy, it is the pain and the privation of pleasure (Heydt). There are several varieties of utilitarianism. “Basically, a utilitarian approach to morality implies that no moral act (an act of stealing) or rule (“Keep your promises”) is intrinsically right or wrong.…
Ethics and morals are weaved into multiple aspects of every persons life. They help shape people into who they are, and keep our nation united as a whole. I will be using this paper in-order to explain the similarities and differences between the of virtue theory, utilitarianism, and deontological ethics. I will also explain the idea of virtues, values, and morals with an example about my grandfather, and his time in the military, as-it relates to each of the above theories. Similarities and Differences:…
Utilitarianism believes acts are morally permissible if it causes the greatest happiness, or the least unhappiness for people. For topics such as suicide, euthanasia, and abortion, a utilitarian believes that the end justifies the means. If more people would be happy and less unhappy with the even happening, then the event is morally permissible. Natural law believes that the right to life is a right that is also a duty, that life is a gift with definite restrictions and responsibilities attached. Man is obligated to live out his life to the end of its natural span.…
Social justice The analysis of social justice can be a complex, this is due to the many features contributing to how social justice is perceived. Each individual has their own view on defining social justice, which can be influenced many possible factors (Garvin & Reisch, 2016). Furthermore, the analysis of social justice consists firstly on what is social justice, the background and people who have influenced this concept, and the different arguments surrounding social justice. In addition, despite the conflicting views on defining social justice, it can be agreed by both political and philosophical fields that social justice needs social burdens, as well as benefits to be shared equally in society, whether it’s tangible or intangible (Garvin…
Natural rights and utilitarianism are two ethical philosophies based on human nature and dictates on the fundamentals of humankind. The two concepts are incompatible since they are disparate in aspects such as; their principles on human nature and judgement, beliefs of the government’s purpose and responsibility, and their application of principles to achieve social and political unity. Natural rights are heavily based on the entitlement of rights, whereas utilitarianism emphasises the notion of self-interest and consequentialism. In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, John Locke and Thomas Jefferson both had an influential impact on the development of liberal ideology.…
Through the course of philosophy 210, we have been exposed to many different theories that reward one aspect on what morality. The most recent one, Ross theory of right conduct, which gives a very different aspect on morality as the past theories. In this paper, it will be explain and review Ross theory of right conduct, how it differs from all the other theories, and how we can apply it. The main difference between Ross theory of right conduct and the previously viewed moral theories, such as consequentialism and utilitarianism, is that amount of pleasure is not the entire thing use to judge for what is morally right to do.…
Utilitarianism and Libertarianism PO-406-01 Criminal Justice Seminar Olivia Guiney February 18th 2016 When I consider Utilitarianism and the principal of utility, I first consider our inherent nature. Our nature and our own fostered environment have us under the governance of “Two sovereign masters, pain and pleasure. For pain and pleasure dictates how we live, the decisions we make and the chains of cause and effect. By happiness is intended pleasure, and the absence of pain; by unhappiness, pain, and the privation of pleasure” (Sandel, 2007).…
Allison Baker Prof. Ronald Davenport PHI202-04 1 October 2017 Does Utilitarianism Make Sense? Before I enrolled in this course, I never knew how much information there was on morality. I used to think that morals were simply what you personally thought was right and wrong, but I now know there is so much more to it. Morality has more of an impact on the world than I would’ve ever known, and learning about a topic such as utilitarianism has especially opened my views relating to society and morality.…
Ethical Framework Utilitarianism is an ethical theory that I feel aligned to personally. Utilitarianism states that the ethical choice is the one that provides the greatest amount of good for the greatest amount of people, even if that choice isn’t the best for everyone. Much of our politics are conducted using this approach, making decisions and laws that increase the amount of good while also reducing the amount of harm that is done. I believe this to be the most practical approach to most situations, especially when it comes to government. This is because it is virtually impossible to meet the needs or wants of every single person, so doing the greatest amount of good for the greatest amount of people is ultimately what is best for the community.…