Utilitarianism: Decision Scenario One Procreative beneficence (296) Nearly 5000 diseases have been known to involve genetic factors. A tremendous increase has been noted in the use of genetic information to predict and diagnose disease. No programs of positive eugenics are currently operated in the United States. It is possible however to select an embryo via in vitro fertilization and preimplantation genetic diagnosis. Currently the only non disease state that a test is available for is gender (Savulescu 296)However, there is an option open to those who wish to have a child that allows them to select donor eggs or sperm from individuals with traits considered desirable. A person may also choose to receive a physician created embryo, which
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Mills states “actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness” (863). This statement is known as The Principle of Utility. Two main things, happiness and consequence characterize utilitarianism. The utility of an action is judged by the amount of happiness is produces. This principle focuses on the consequences of the action as opposed to a characteristic of the action itself. Thus, no action is intrinsically right or wrong. Also, no action can be judged right or wrong based on the actors past actions, desires, or intentions. Proper use of this principle requires one to reflect on the possible results of each action we could take in a given situation and choose the one that produces the most happiness. The statement “we need to keep our society competitive, and in the long run the whole human race will benefit” is suggestive of utilitarianism view that creating this program is the right decision because the happiness will outweigh the sadness. Using this logic a utilitarian would conclude there is nothing objectionable about it in principle. Although we may make a choice that produces unhappiness, as long as the happiness outweighs the unhappiness it is considered the right
Mills states “actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness” (863). This statement is known as The Principle of Utility. Two main things, happiness and consequence characterize utilitarianism. The utility of an action is judged by the amount of happiness is produces. This principle focuses on the consequences of the action as opposed to a characteristic of the action itself. Thus, no action is intrinsically right or wrong. Also, no action can be judged right or wrong based on the actors past actions, desires, or intentions. Proper use of this principle requires one to reflect on the possible results of each action we could take in a given situation and choose the one that produces the most happiness. The statement “we need to keep our society competitive, and in the long run the whole human race will benefit” is suggestive of utilitarianism view that creating this program is the right decision because the happiness will outweigh the sadness. Using this logic a utilitarian would conclude there is nothing objectionable about it in principle. Although we may make a choice that produces unhappiness, as long as the happiness outweighs the unhappiness it is considered the right