In this paper, I will argue that the disadvantages of Utilitarianism far outweigh the advantages. Like any other theory, Utilitarianism has its advantages and disadvantages. On the face of it, this seems like a sensible moral theory. Friends, family members, significant others, and anyone else important to you counts just the same as a complete stranger when making a moral decision. What this means is that under Utilitarianism, everyone counts for the same, and nobody counts for more than anybody else. Secondly, Utilitarians emphasize that agents are to be neutral in making their decisions. One might have good motives or reasons for performing a certain action, but an action is only considered morally good for a Utilitarian if it maximizes the consequences, or happiness, of a given situation. First, Utilitarians are focused on states of affairs, which means that Utilitarianism is concerned with the result, or consequences, of one’s actions, and disregards other features like one’s motives or reasons for acting. John Stuart Mill, one of the foremost Utilitarian moral theorists, sums up Utilitarianism as follows: “actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness.” 80Īny account of Utilitarianism will have two central tenets.
There are generally two branches of Consequentialism: Hedonism, which tells us that the consequences we should pursue should be ‘pleasurable’ consequences, and Utilitarianism, which tells us that the consequences we should pursue should be ‘happy’ consequences. Wooldridge) Introduction to Ethics (Levin et al.) (Levin_et_al.) Utilitarianism: Strengths & WeaknessesĬonsequentialism is a general moral theory that tells us that, in any given situation, we should perform those actions that lead to better overall consequences. This book should be of interest to welfare economists, political scientists and decision-theorists.25 Utilitarianism: Strengths & Weaknesses He finds inadequate the theory of action implied by utilitarianism, and he argues that utilitarianism fails to engage at a serious level with the real problems of moral and political philosophy, and fails to make sense of notions such as integrity, or even human happiness itself. In Part II Bernard Williams offers a sustained and vigorous critique of utilitarian assumptions, arguments and ideals.
In the first part of the book Professor Smart advocates a modern and sophisticated version of classical utilitarianism he tries to formulate a consistent and persuasive elaboration of the doctrine that the rightness and wrongness of actions is determined solely by their consequences, and in particular their consequences for the sum total of human happiness.
Two essays on utilitarianism, written from opposite points of view, by J.
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