In utilitarianism, many philosophers including Jeremey Bentham believe that utilitarianism is a useful tool when trying to make a decision that could have a great effect on one or many individuals. John Mill decided to extend this theory and state that it provides the greatest number of happiness for the greatest number of individuals. Moreover, Mill believed in the theory of the greatest happiness principle, which states “actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness.” (Mill, J. 1879. P. 201) In this quote, Mill implies that any action an individual performs that bring along happiness is right, but if it does not bring an individual happiness, then it is wrong.
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In this scenario, Williams would argue how utilitarianism does not care about the moral dilemma she faced while making her decision, but rather the outcome of the decision and the obvious choice of saving one child. Williams believes that the choice she had to make was in itself very difficult and he considers how her choice could affect her moral integrity, while utilitarianism belittles her moral integrity. When considering the story of the ones who walked away from Omelas, the people were thinking in a utilitarian way because they believed that as long as they continued living a good life, one child suffering was worth it. For that society, that decision of having one child suffer is worth it if it means that the whole society lives in peace. This hedonistic view is what made some people leave the society because they could not live there knowing that a child was suffering for their
In this scenario, Williams would argue how utilitarianism does not care about the moral dilemma she faced while making her decision, but rather the outcome of the decision and the obvious choice of saving one child. Williams believes that the choice she had to make was in itself very difficult and he considers how her choice could affect her moral integrity, while utilitarianism belittles her moral integrity. When considering the story of the ones who walked away from Omelas, the people were thinking in a utilitarian way because they believed that as long as they continued living a good life, one child suffering was worth it. For that society, that decision of having one child suffer is worth it if it means that the whole society lives in peace. This hedonistic view is what made some people leave the society because they could not live there knowing that a child was suffering for their