Utilitarianism

Utilitarianism

________ believes that if we just sit by and watch something bad happen when we could have prevented it, that means having dirty hands anyway.

Rule utilitarianism

________ wants us to think long- term and on a larger scale; to take into account the complexity of the situations we find ourselves in.

Utilitarianism

________ → Moral theory that focuses on results, or consequences, of our actions.

Rule Utilitarianism

Thus, ________ allows us to refrain from acts that might maximize utility in the short run, and instead follow rules that will maximize utility for the majority of the time.

Utilitarians

________ agree that a moral theory should apply equally to everyone.

Utilitarians

________ believe that happiness should drive our morality.

Utilitarians

________ suggest that we make our moral decisions from the position of a benevolent, disinterested spectator who is unbiased, objective, and rational.

A Critique on Utilitarianism

Jim and the Indigenous People

Ex

Five patients need organ transplants

Utilitarianism

Moral theory that focuses on results, or consequences, of our actions. It treats intentions as irrelevant.

Act Utilitarianism

States that, in any given situation, choose the action that produces the greatest good for the greatest number.

Rule Utilitarianism

A version of the theory that says we ought to live by rules that, in general, are likely to lead to the greatest good for the greatest number.

The Greatest Happiness Principle

The basis of Act Utilitarianism, which is doing what’s good for the greatest number of people.

Principle of Utility

Choosing the action that would produce the most overall happiness for the group, even though it produced less happiness for you than other alternatives would have.