Theories Of Ethical Universalism

Ethics and morality are considered to be a set of rules that a person or society follows in order to maintain a positive behavior. Some very general examples of morals are stealing is wrong and murder is wrong. In philosophy, there are three major categories of ethics. These include subjectivism, relativism, and universalism. Ethical subjectivism claims there are no objective moral truths while relativism claims there are no culturally independent moral truths. Ethical universalism states that there are objective and culturally independent moral truths. I will be focusing solely on universalism for the trolley cases that will be discussed later on. The two theories we focused on within ethical universalism deal with Mill’s Principle of Utility …show more content…
The first is referred to as the Swine objection. This objection claims that Mill basing all morality on pleasure demeans humans to nothing more than common swine, or pigs. It also states that the idea of hedonism is degrading in itself. If the only pursuit or guidance for humans lies within our own pleasure, than what separates our existence from animals? Mill replied claiming there are different qualities of pleasure. There are higher, intellectual, and lower, bodily, pleasures in life and that humans are the only beings capable of experiencing higher pleasures. An example of the different quality of pleasure can be seen when examining a relationship. Physical intimacy does have a bodily pleasure, however, being able to connect to another individual on an intellectual and personal level is much more satisfying. The second opposition to the Principle of Utility is the Practicality Objection. This counterargument claims that it is not practically possible to calculate whether an action will yield the greatest sum of happiness due to the lack of time in the decision making or the uncertainty of all the variables in an individual’s life. This objection does hold value in that most cases, the observer can’t take his time fully evaluating the situation. Even if the intentions of an action were in the right place, the outcome is all that matters within the Principle of Utility. An additional objection to Utilitarianism in general is the organ donor case. This states there are two patients dying and in need of two different organs while a healthy patient comes in for a routine check up. Should the doctor should kill the healthy man, harvest the organs, and save the two dying patients? Mill and the Principle of Utility would say yes due to the increase in overall happiness. However, this decision seems morally flawed. The killing of an innocent life, or murder which is an immoral act, is