A Brief Look at Utilitarianism - 1330 Words

Utilitarianism is an attractive philosophy which claims to replace arbitrary-seeming rules by a morality with a single coherent basis. As the most common form of consequentialism, based on the pursuit of the greatest happiness of the greatest number, it argues that acts should be judged as right or wrong according to their consequences. Because happiness is the only thing that is good in itself, and unhappiness is the only thing that is inherently bad, everything else is only good or bad according to its tendency to produce happiness or unhappiness. In a business type system, utilitarianism is also attractive as a means of decision-making in which the majority must choose wisely. This type of decision making may have a positive effect on what action to take, but at the same time it might have a cost that would not be taken lightly by a business. From an engineer’s and company’s stand point, Utilitarianism would best fit, for the simple reason that it will satisfy everyone, because it is more of a general theory, with a large margin area of company and consumer satisfaction. Where other theories might be more specific to the situation, with utilitarianism almost all fits within the category. This may be a good thing for a company, but at the same time, one of the difficulties with the utilitarian standard is that it seems to sometimes favor the greater aggregate good at the expense of a vulnerable minority; the minority being the company’s consumer (Rabins). ForShow MoreRelatedUtilitarianism And The Most Important Argument1679 Words   |  7 PagesIn this essay, I will be writing about utilitarianism and the most important notion that arises from it, which is that an action is morally right only if it maximizes the greatest good for the greatest number of people (Cahn, 114). First, I will explain what utilitarianism is, when and by whom it was originally created, and a brief explanation of what it stands for. I will then explain the two different types of classical utilitarianism and explain the differences between the two. Next, I will giveRead MoreApplying Normative Theories Of A Moral Situation993 Words   |  4 Pagesdilemma Case 2.3 from â€Å"Applying Normative Theories to a Moral Situation† will be used for a brief analysis of two of the six moral theories recently studied. As a professional I am encountered with a few ethical dilemmas in case 2.3. For example, is the 4 year old child my only patient? If not, how does patient, client confidentiality factor in this case? As a professional physician should I lie to my patient first and foremost? Should I lie to the other members of the family, to my profession, andRead MoreApplying Normative Theories Of A Moral Situation996 Words   |  4 PagesCase 2.3 from â€Å"Applying Normative Theories to a Moral Situation† will be used for a brief analysis of two of the six moral theories recently studied. As a professional I am encountered with a few ethical dilemmas in case 2.3. For example, is the 4 years old child my only patient? If not, how does patient client confidentiality factor into this case? As a professional physician should I lie to my patient first and foremost? Should I lie to the other members of the family, to my profession, and lastRead MoreThe Human Right Of Free Speech And Intellectual Property Rights1392 Words   |  6 Pagesthere are many issues that these systems address, I have, for simplicities sake, chosen to discuss only the issues of the human right of free speech and intellectual property rights. Before diving into the types of ethical systems, I will offer a brief definition of human right issues and intellectual property rights. Human rights are defined by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights is â€Å"Human rights are rights inherent to all human beings, whatever our nationality, place of residenceRead MoreThe Skeptic Theory of Morality in International Relations Essay1398 Words   |  6 Pages more practical, must be allowed to prevail.† In this essay, I will first present the Skeptic argument that morality either plays no role or gives way to prudential reasons that serve the self interest of the state. During that I will give a brief explanation of Skepticism as a theory of morality in international relations. Following that I will explore ethics in the Morality of States and Cosmopolitan schools of thought in comparison to Skepticism. Skepticism: Skepticism, often known asRead MoreThe Code Of Ethics And The Law Of The Public Health, Safety, And Welfare981 Words   |  4 Pagesprofessionals in their own field. In each one of these fields, there is a certain code of ethics that must be lived and maintained, by the engineer themselves. There are lists of the different ethics models, but to list a few: there is Rule-Based Utilitarianism, Duty Ethics, Rights Ethics, Virtue Ethics, and the NCEES ethical code. All of these individual codes clearly states, and sets guidelines for the engineers to follow and live by. These ethics set the standard and obligations that engineersRead MoreCivil Disobedience Is A Method Of Nonviolent Rebellion1453 Words   |  6 PagesThat’s what everyone is taught to believe and follow by. Isn’t it more humane to want to solve things rationally? Why not just try to be more human rather than brutes? Civil Disobedience is a method of nonviolent rebellion that causes people to look at what’s taking place around them, and realize that there is no equality around them. Seeing that great actions have been taken place with success, it’s fair to say that anyone or group feeling discriminated against will be able to fight back in thisRead MoreThe Moral Responsibilities of Multinational Corporations (MNCs)1617 Words   |  7 Pagesthe validity of utilitarianism as it relates to Caltex and South Africa in the 1970s, 1980s, and until â€Å"De Klerk dismantles apartheid in South Africa† on February 2, 1990 (BBC, 1990). Let us start by defining utilitarianism: â€Å"Utilitarianism is a general term for any view that holds that actions and policies should be evaluated on the basis of the benefits and costs they will impose on society† (Velazquez, 2006, p. 61). The key to the argument, if one is a follower of utilitarianism, is the beliefRead MoreMorality Is Not The End All Be All888 Words   |  4 Pagesthat morality is just one of many aspects and values of a person. In other words, people are more than just moral beings and we should be happy that this is the case. This paper will provide a brief look at Susan Wolf’s argument as well as my argument for why her contention is the correct one. First a brief summary of one of Wolf’s most notable pieces, â€Å"Moral Saints†. In â€Å"Moral Saints†, Wolf argues from example. She opens her piece by asserting that she does not know if there are moral saints inRead MoreThe Abortion Debate Essay1544 Words   |  7 Pagesissue, abortion is a highly debated topic in today’s society. In this essay I will examine both sides of the abortion issue. I will begin with a brief overview of the abortion debate, to include the morality of the situation. Next I will discuss the Pro-Life argument. Lastly I will look at the Pro-Choice view. In the final analysis I will show how utilitarianism, altruism, and situational ethical views apply to abortion. Having in mind the extreme controversy surrounding this issue, I will examine the