Many conflicts happen in this world we live in, some people participate in settling them and be called as “heroes”, and less lucky ones as “martyrs”, the rest are simply forgotten. The way people see them solely depends on the result of their actions: were they successful in solving a problem, and protect themselves, or not. The moral philosophy that has the similar approach, take actions’ consequences over anything else, is called utilitarianism.
In the case, the former soldier is considered morally praiseworthy because he succeeds in protecting others’ live as well as his own and taking out the gunman in the process, his actions result in good consequences under this particular circumstance. It is also because the action’s result is in accordance with “the Greatest Happiness Principle” proposed by Mill, it is the most important principle in utilitarianism.
As the name indicates, “the Greatest Happiness Principle” suggests an action is right if and only if it leads to the …show more content…
He chose to fight the gunman to reduce the degree of pain on the scene, and bring pleasure to the people. However, simply bring any kind of happiness does not fulfill the standard of duty exactly, according to John Stuart Mill, we also need to pay attention to the quality of pleasure as well as its quantity (11). There are lower quality pleasure like simple bodily enjoyment, and the other ones that are superior in quality, according to Mill, if people have experience of all two types of pleasure and choose one in two, not because of any moral obligation, then that one has better quality. The soldier’s selfless action to disarm the gunman shows he has a good social feeling and conscience, as Mill said: “no person of feeling and conscience would be selfish and base” (12), this essentially proves that his action is from
In the case, the former soldier is considered morally praiseworthy because he succeeds in protecting others’ live as well as his own and taking out the gunman in the process, his actions result in good consequences under this particular circumstance. It is also because the action’s result is in accordance with “the Greatest Happiness Principle” proposed by Mill, it is the most important principle in utilitarianism.
As the name indicates, “the Greatest Happiness Principle” suggests an action is right if and only if it leads to the …show more content…
He chose to fight the gunman to reduce the degree of pain on the scene, and bring pleasure to the people. However, simply bring any kind of happiness does not fulfill the standard of duty exactly, according to John Stuart Mill, we also need to pay attention to the quality of pleasure as well as its quantity (11). There are lower quality pleasure like simple bodily enjoyment, and the other ones that are superior in quality, according to Mill, if people have experience of all two types of pleasure and choose one in two, not because of any moral obligation, then that one has better quality. The soldier’s selfless action to disarm the gunman shows he has a good social feeling and conscience, as Mill said: “no person of feeling and conscience would be selfish and base” (12), this essentially proves that his action is from