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Utilitarianism Essays

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Utilitarianism! Ever heard the saying, “for the greater good”? That’s the heart and soul of it. Imagine you’re at a crossroads and have to pick a path. One way might make a few folks ecstatic but leave many in the dumps. The other? It could sprinkle a bit of happiness ...

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Utilitarianism, a consequentialist ethical theory, asserts that the moral worth of an action is determined by its ability to produce the greatest amount of happiness or pleasure for the greatest number of people. However, within the framework of Utilitarianism, there exist variations known as extreme and restricted Utilitarianism. These variations differ in their approach to maximizing utility and addressing moral dilemmas. In this essay, we will delve into the characteristics of extreme and restricted Utilitarianism, analyze their strengths and weaknesses,...
2 Pages 700 Words
Introduction Utilitarianism, an influential ethical theory, emphasizes the maximization of overall happiness as the basis for determining the moral rightness or wrongness of actions. Developed by philosophers such as Jeremy Bentham, John Stuart Mill, R.M. Hare, and Peter Singer, Utilitarianism has gained prominence for its consequentialist approach to ethics. Definition and Core Principles Utilitarianism posits that the consequences of actions, rather than their motives or adherence to moral rules, are what determine their ethical value. Actions are judged based on...
1 Page 492 Words
Introduction In the field of nursing ethics, two prominent ethical theories often come into play: deontology and utilitarianism. While both aim to guide ethical decision-making, they approach moral dilemmas from different perspectives. This essay will compare and contrast deontology and utilitarianism in the context of nursing ethics, highlighting their key principles and applications. Deontology in Nursing Deontology is an ethical theory that emphasizes duty, rules, and principles in determining the morality of actions. In nursing, deontological principles often include respecting...
1 Page 547 Words
Introduction Euthanasia, the deliberate act of ending another's life, often in cases of extreme suffering and with the individual's consent, remains one of the most contentious ethical dilemmas in modern society. Ethical theories such as Kantianism and Utilitarianism offer contrasting perspectives on the moral permissibility of euthanasia. While Utilitarianism justifies euthanasia based on its consequences in maximizing overall happiness, Kantianism rejects it due to the violation of categorical imperatives. However, both theories exhibit significant flaws in their reasoning, making the...
1 Page 480 Words
Introduction Utilitarianism, as an ethical theory, traditionally focuses on maximizing overall happiness or pleasure. However, within the realm of Utilitarian thought, there exists a variant known as qualitative Utilitarianism, which emphasizes the quality rather than the quantity of happiness. This essay delves into the principles and implications of qualitative Utilitarianism. Understanding Qualitative Utilitarianism Qualitative Utilitarianism diverges from classical Utilitarianism by asserting that not all pleasures are of equal value. While classical Utilitarianism suggests that all pleasures should be quantified and...
1 Page 469 Words
Introduction Utilitarianism and libertarianism stand as two distinct ethical theories, each offering a unique perspective on moral decision-making and societal organization. While utilitarianism prioritizes the maximization of overall happiness, libertarianism emphasizes the protection of individual rights and limited government intervention. This essay aims to delve into the fundamental differences between these ideologies and their implications for ethical reasoning and social governance. Utilitarianism: Pursuit of Happiness at the Expense of Rights Utilitarianism, rooted in the philosophy of consequentialism, posits that the...
1 Page 564 Words
Introduction Utilitarianism is an ethical theory that posits the maximization of utility as the basis for moral decision-making. In the context of abortion, utilitarianism weighs the consequences of terminating a pregnancy against the potential benefits to determine the ethical course of action. This essay explores the utilitarian perspective on abortion, highlighting the ethical considerations and implications involved. Abortion: Definition and Context Abortion is the deliberate termination of human pregnancy, often performed under various circumstances. While some argue for its legality...
1 Page 404 Words
Utilitarianism, as an ethical theory, falls under the broader category of consequentialism. Consequentialism posits that the morality of an action is determined solely by its consequences, rather than any inherent qualities of the action itself. Within this framework, utilitarianism stands out as a prominent and influential approach to ethical decision-making. This essay explores utilitarianism as a form of consequentialism, examining its key principles, historical development, and implications in ethical reasoning. Definition of Utilitarianism and Consequentialism Utilitarianism is a moral theory...
1 Page 562 Words
Introduction Utilitarianism stands as a moral framework grounded in the pursuit of the greatest happiness and utility. This essay aims to delve into the various traits and characteristics inherent in Utilitarianism, shedding light on its complexities and nuances. By focusing on key contributors such as Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill, we can explore the diverse perspectives within Utilitarianism and analyze its traits in depth. Teleological and Deontological Theories Utilitarianism incorporates both teleological and deontological perspectives in its ethical framework....
1 Page 451 Words
Introduction Utilitarianism and deontology are two prominent ethical theories that guide decision-making in various contexts. Utilitarianism focuses on maximizing good outcomes, while deontology emphasizes moral rules and duties. This essay argues that deontology provides a stronger platform for critical decision-making in society due to its emphasis on moral principles and human dignity. Utilitarianism: Pursuit of Good Outcomes Utilitarianism, founded by philosophers like Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill, prioritizes the maximization of good outcomes. The principle of utility dictates that...
1 Page 434 Words
Moral philosophy serves as a guiding light in navigating the complexities of ethical decision-making, offering us insights into how we should approach moral dilemmas. Within this realm, utilitarianism and Kantianism emerge as two prominent ethical frameworks, each with distinct principles and applications. In this essay, we will delve into the key principles, differences, applications, and implications of utilitarianism and Kantianism, shedding light on their contrasting perspectives. The Foundations of Utilitarianism Originating from the minds of Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart...
1 Page 494 Words
It is 2019. America is the land of the free, and when it comes to marijuana that means thirty-three states allowing medical marijuana and eleven states legalizing it for recreational use. This, however, has not brought freedom back to the tens of thousands of Americans who have been charged with marijuana possession. Many of these people are incarcerated in private for-profit prisons that lobby their interests to government representatives. This industry has a heavy interest in keeping as many prisoners...
1 Page 647 Words
It is commonly acknowledged that the ethics of abortion have long been a source of discussion and debate, with debate spanning decades. The term literally refers to the act of terminating a pregnancy by either extracting an embryo or the fetus before it reaches development (Forster 52). Miscarriage is the term for an unintentional abortion; conversely, induced abortion is the term for a planned abortion. The removal of the fetus when it has the capacity to survive in the outer...
2 Pages 969 Words
Philosophy Term Paper: Jeremy Bentham Jeremy Bentham is a famous English political radical and philosopher. Among his philosophical works, the most well-known is the concept of utilitarianism in which the acts and actions are assessed based on the potential outcomes and consequences (Stanford Encyclopedia, 2019). The most aspired result or the relevant outcome is happiness or pleasure to ensure for all and sundry in the course of action. Bentham was incredibly influenced by empiricists and enlightenment thinkers such as David...
2 Pages 982 Words
Executive Summary This is qualitative research that possesses the capacity to introduce the standard of Utilitarianism as a standout amongst the most effective and enticing ways to deal with regulating morals. John Stuart Mill is an early established supporter of Bentham, who concocted this philosophical hypothesis. John Stuart Mills by one means or another did share some unique perspectives with respect to some part of this hypothesis in light of the feeling of bliss. In later circumstances, Philosopher Karl Marx...
6 Pages 2790 Words
Journalists being free to publish information is vital to a functioning, democratic society, and an informed population. However, a number of checks and balances are required to ensure that this right is not abused. As the Council of Europe’s guidelines on safeguarding privacy in the media state, “a journalist’s right to freedom of expression is not absolute. Journalists have rights and responsibilities” (Council of Europe, 2018). This means that the press must be ethical and responsible and that, contrary to...
6 Pages 2758 Words
Ethics is the study of morality, Ethics is the moral principles governing a person’s or agent’s actions. I would call myself a Utilitarian-Egoists ethicist because I believe in doing that act that produces the greatest good for the masses but however, in doing that act that produces the greatest good for the greatest number we must always put our self-first, although at times self-egoism may seem selfish, it is always fair and intrinsically good to be self-motivated. My internal reflection...
7 Pages 3025 Words
Utilitarianism means that you do anything to get the most amount of happiness. No matter what it takes in utilitarianism the bigger factor and, really the only factor that matters is being happy and receiving pleasure. If it means killing someone because it brings pleasure and for the greater good to you and others than that is okay. Utilitarianism also uses humans as always having to do good for others. You will always have to volunteer o always try to...
4 Pages 1895 Words
In spite of debate with regards to the inception of ethics- are they natural or are they learned, are they God-given, or are they manmade develops - the way that ethics are priceless to people stays uncontested. Imagine a reality where we don't have ethical behaviors controlling us. In such a world, what is to prevent us from killing one another, going as far as to push humankind off the extreme edge of destruction? Maybe that is an outrageous situation,...
2 Pages 948 Words
Throughout history philosophers have developed ethical theories that attempt to distinguish what is morally right and wrong. Although these theories differ from one another, they all can be applied to multiple aspects of our society. Some examples of these theories include Utilitarianism, Cultural Relativism, Social Contract Theory, and Kantianism. The differences between each of these theories are as follows. Utilitarianism focuses on the outcome of an action as the primary motivation and whether or not that conduct is ethical (Hill,...
4 Pages 1972 Words
Introduction Abortion should remain legal in Australia. For many people, abortion is essentially a morality issue, concerning the legal rights of a women’s body and the rights of the fetus. Pro choice and pro life have seen to be the compelling arguments of this issue and will be expressed in this essay. Early Priests of the Catholic church and Early church councils have expressed their views against abortion taking the “pro life” stance. However it is recognised that today there...
3 Pages 1328 Words
There are many differences between utilitarianism and Kantian ethics. In Utilitarianism, our actions should result in more happiness than pain. Act-Utilitarianism is the thought that whether something is right or wrong directly correlates with how much happiness comes from the individual action. Whereas, Rule-Utilitarianism is the idea that rules were created to result in the highest amount of happiness. John Mill states “The creed which accepts as the foundation of morals, Utility, or the Greatest Happiness Principle, holds that actions...
2 Pages 1133 Words
In Parfit’s attempt to create a theory of morality, labelled Theory X, which is a non-person affecting view and doesn't allow for situations in which an intolerable conclusion could be reached, he found what he called the ‘Repugnant Conclusion’. Parfit’s original formulation of the Repugnant Conclusion was “for any possible population of at least 10 billion people, all with a very high quality of life, there must be some large imaginable population whose existence, if other things are equal, would...
5 Pages 2482 Words
Utilitarianism is an ethical hypothesis usually considered to have been established by Jeremy Bentham, a nineteenth-century English thinker and social reformer. It is based on the idea of satisfaction and tries to promote and enhance it. The thought here is that everybody looks for happiness and joy, and that it is a definitive objective of every person to be cheerful and happy. So, as per traditional utilitarianism, when an individual wish to act in a morally stable way the person...
5 Pages 2274 Words
Dilemma 1 states that Blair has accessed Sam’s computer without his consent and has discovered Sam’s gambling bets with a local sports bookmaker over the last several days. Since employees of the casino are forbidden to partake in any gamble activities, Blair is currently concern as to whether he should report on his co-worker or refrain from disclosing his illegal acts. This case is an example of an ethical dilemma as neither of these proposed decisions will provide a satisfactory...
3 Pages 1377 Words
Utilitarianism is the right action is the one that brings about the most overall happiness. This basically means a person makes a decision based on what he or she will have the most positive outcome. One should be an agent for their own happiness. Many decisions people do daily are for selfish reasons anyway. Right actions are the ones that produce good according to Utilitarianism. There are three ideas that attack Utilitarianism which is justice, rights, and backward thinking. McCloskey...
7 Pages 3135 Words
A businessman decides that he is going to buy the only source of water in a region and will sell rights to it in order to make a profit for himself. The businessman then proceeds to charge fifteen times more for water rights, effectively putting everyone in the farming community out of business. With the local economy extinguished, the townspeople grow poorer and are unable to meet their basic needs. The businessman thinks that he did nothing wrong in this...
2 Pages 1060 Words
Interpretive Psychology A possible option of measuring utility is through, Interpretive psychological testing. A psychological study is a theoretical fact we do in our brains to test a philosophical hypothesis. The theoretical fact should be something that could actually happen (and generally it's something that actually happened or will happen later). In order for us to test the hypothesis, it must have an impact on what might be valid if the theoretical fact were real. You could then oppose this...
5 Pages 2251 Words
Philippa Foot in his publication “Killing and Letting Die,” formulated a thought experiment that incorporated two situations. Despite the two different scenarios yielding the exact same consequences in the end, the different methods employed in arriving at those similar outcomes raise questions revolving morally permissibility. In the first scenario which we shall call Rescue I, a person is in a situation where he must drive swiftly in order to rescue five individuals from an imminent ocean tide. Along the way...
4 Pages 1777 Words
Utilitarianism is one of the most established and influential normative ethical theories, that determines right from wrong by focusing on consequences. It states we should strive to generate the greater good to the greatest number of people who stand to be affected by the action. In this essay I will be highlighting both the positive and negative features of utilitarianism in practice as illustrated by David Meeler’s analysis of the global textile industry. Before underlining the positive and negative aspects...
1 Page 483 Words
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