Utilitarianism

Definition

Utilitarianism is a moral philosophy that holds that the most ethical choice is the one that maximizes overall happiness or well-being for all people affected by the decision. It is concerned with the consequences of actions rather than the inherent rightness or wrongness of the actions themselves.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Utilitarianism was developed by philosophers such as Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill in the 18th and 19th centuries.
2. The core principle of utilitarianism is to maximize overall happiness or well-being for all affected parties, not just the individual making the decision.
3. Utilitarians believe that the rightness or wrongness of an action depends entirely on its consequences, not on the inherent nature of the action itself.
4. Utilitarianism is a form of consequentialism, as it judges the morality of an action based on its outcomes rather than its adherence to a rule or moral absolute.
5. Critics of utilitarianism argue that it can justify sacrificing the rights or well-being of some individuals for the greater good of the majority.

Review Questions

• Explain the core principle of utilitarianism and how it differs from other ethical frameworks.
  • The core principle of utilitarianism is to maximize overall happiness or well-being for all affected parties, rather than focusing on the inherent rightness or wrongness of an action itself. This differs from deontological ethical frameworks, which judge the morality of an action based on adherence to moral rules or duties, and virtue ethics, which evaluates actions based on the moral character of the individual. Utilitarianism is a form of consequentialism, as it is solely concerned with the outcomes of decisions rather than the nature of the actions themselves.
• Discuss how utilitarianism could be used to justify sacrificing the rights or well-being of some individuals for the greater good.
  • One of the key criticisms of utilitarianism is that it could potentially justify sacrificing the rights or well-being of certain individuals if doing so would maximize overall happiness or utility for the majority. For example, a utilitarian framework could potentially justify imprisoning an innocent person if doing so would deter crime and increase societal well-being. Critics argue that this disregard for individual rights and the potential for tyranny of the majority is a major flaw in utilitarian ethical reasoning.
• Analyze how utilitarianism differs from ethical egoism and how these two frameworks could lead to different moral conclusions.
  • Utilitarianism and ethical egoism represent fundamentally different approaches to moral reasoning. While utilitarianism focuses on maximizing overall happiness or well-being for all affected parties, ethical egoism holds that moral agents should act in their own self-interest. These frameworks can lead to vastly different moral conclusions - a utilitarian might sacrifice their own interests for the greater good, while an ethical egoist would prioritize their personal welfare above all else. The utilitarian view considers the consequences for the collective, while egoism is concerned solely with the individual. Navigating these divergent ethical stances is a key challenge in moral philosophy.

Related terms

Consequentialism: The moral theory that the consequences of one's actions are the ultimate basis for judgments about the morality of those actions.

Hedonism: The view that pleasure is the highest good and the proper aim of human life.

Egoism: The ethical view that moral agents should do what is in their own self-interest.