Describe one area in your life in which you have followed Utilitarianism in deciding upon a course of action. What was your reasoning? Looking back now, do you think your decision was ethically appropriate?
I could not think of a decision where I believe the decision was made for truly utilitarian ideals. I’ve taken actions to try and make the most people happy but often I also had an investment in the course of actions when I made those decisions so I cannot say that they were exclusively in the intent of utilitarianism. Even if the act has outwardly seemed like that of someone following a utilitarian ethic I usually have had additional reasoning to improve my life (often to reduce a stressor on myself) or to improve interpersonal relationships with one or more individuals. …show more content…
Personally, I see utilitarianism as a theoretical goal as opposed to an actually consistently obtainable ethic. Trying to do things that will make more general happiness, while not maximizing it, are often still good ones. However, there is the danger of doing things that might meet utilitarian ideals that I don’t think are ethical. Something that comes to mind is the death penalty, though I think that the maximized happiness on that may be continuing to shift over time.
Do consequences make an action right? Why?
I don’t think that consequences, in themselves, make an action right. I certainly think they are an important part of trying to make ethical decisions. I agree with Kant’s ideas of not using people merely as a means to an end, which if you were only concerned about consequences you would ethically be allowed to do. In a theory where only consequences were the important factor, I can see many people being hurt, killed, or abused in the name of serving a greater end goal. I just can’t stomach that as an acceptable method of making ethical decisions.
What do you find appealing or discouraging about Kant’s Theory (Section
I could not think of a decision where I believe the decision was made for truly utilitarian ideals. I’ve taken actions to try and make the most people happy but often I also had an investment in the course of actions when I made those decisions so I cannot say that they were exclusively in the intent of utilitarianism. Even if the act has outwardly seemed like that of someone following a utilitarian ethic I usually have had additional reasoning to improve my life (often to reduce a stressor on myself) or to improve interpersonal relationships with one or more individuals. …show more content…
Personally, I see utilitarianism as a theoretical goal as opposed to an actually consistently obtainable ethic. Trying to do things that will make more general happiness, while not maximizing it, are often still good ones. However, there is the danger of doing things that might meet utilitarian ideals that I don’t think are ethical. Something that comes to mind is the death penalty, though I think that the maximized happiness on that may be continuing to shift over time.
Do consequences make an action right? Why?
I don’t think that consequences, in themselves, make an action right. I certainly think they are an important part of trying to make ethical decisions. I agree with Kant’s ideas of not using people merely as a means to an end, which if you were only concerned about consequences you would ethically be allowed to do. In a theory where only consequences were the important factor, I can see many people being hurt, killed, or abused in the name of serving a greater end goal. I just can’t stomach that as an acceptable method of making ethical decisions.
What do you find appealing or discouraging about Kant’s Theory (Section