Utilitarianism Theory And Contemporary Issues - 1350 Words

In today s society, we face many obstacles in our attempt to achieve the feeling of happiness. As intelligent beings, we try to solve these problems by taking the path that best benefits us. The theory of utilitarianism provides a solution to this but at what cost? What are the benefits and disadvantages of utilitarianism? Is utilitarianism an idea one should live by? What is utilitarianism? I plan on answering these questions within this paper and understand how they relate to everyday life. I will also look at arguments for and against utilitarianism. Then analyze the appealing and unappealing features to determine if utilitarianism should be followed as an absolute rule. Utilitarianism can be generally defined as a way of thinking where one chooses an action based on the amount of happiness that it would produce. In the book Ethics: Theory and Contemporary Issues, by Barbara MacKinnon and Andrew Fiala, the authors state â€Å"Utilitarianism is a form of consequentialism,† a nd that â€Å"John Stuart Mill explained it as ‘actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness.’† (MacKinnon 95). This means that utilitarianism focuses on result of an action based on happiness and that decisions can be taken made by looking at possible outcomes of that decision. What Mill stated would be defined as â€Å" the principle of utility or the greatest happiness principle.†( MacKinnon, 95). This principle is one in which could beShow MoreRelatedExplanation of the Utilitarian Ethical Theory Essay1417 Words   |  6 PagesExplanation of the Utilitarian Ethical Theory There are many different ethical approaches that deal with the morality issues we face every day, but the utilitarian approach holds the feeling of morally belonging to a group and the lack of individualism that many others carry. It also can be a very cold approach for those who belong to the minority in a society. This is because the principle of utility says that â€Å"we ought to do that which produces the greatest amount of happiness or pleasure forRead MoreThe Issues of Ethics970 Words   |  4 PagesIssues of Ethics The two major ethical theories that have the most relevance and prudence to my contemporary views are utilitarianism and those aligned with the concept of a categorical imperative. The philosophy of the former of these was widely pioneered by both Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill. 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