Utilitarianism In Contemporary Ethics Essay Example for Free

Utilitarianism In Contemporary Ethics Essay 1. State the Principle of Utility as formulated by Bentham and Mill and apply it to a particular action (e. g. , lying) to illustrate how it works. (3 points. ) 2. Explain the di%erence between â€Å"act utilitarianism† and â€Å"rule utilitarianism. † (2 points. ) 3. Identify three di%erent utilitarian philosophers and explain how their versions of utilitarianism di%er from one another. (3 points. ) 4. Identify one strength and one weakness of the utilitarian view. (2 points. ) 1. THE PRINCIPLE OF UTILITY DEFINES AN ACT OR RULE THAT IS IN THE RIGHT, WILL CREATE THE GREATEST GOOD OR HAPPINESS FOR THE GREATEST NUMBER OF PEOPLE. FOR EXAMPLE, IF A FRIEND LIES TO A GROUP OF HIS/HER FRIENDS, THAT GROUP OF FRIENDS COULD QUITE POSSIBLY FIND OUT ABOUT THIS LIE THAT COULD CAUSE A NEGATIVE EFFECT FOR THE FRIENDS. THUS, NO GOOD OR HAPPINESS WAS CREATED FROM AN ACTION THAT WAS NOT GOOD FOR THE GREATEST NUMBER OF PEOPLE. CONVERSELY, THE PRINCIPLE OF UTILITY WOULD CONDONE AND APPROVE A LIE IF IT RESULTED IN GREATER HAPPINESS (E. G. , LYING ABOUT AN EXTRAMARITAL AFFAIR TO PROTECT A PERSON’S REPUTATION OR TO AVOID CAUSING NEEDLESS DISTRESS TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY). 2. RULE UTILITARIANISM MEASURES THE AMOUNT OF GOOD THAT AN INDIVIDUAL ACTION DOES ACCORDING TO A RULE OR LAW. ACT UTILITARIANISM DOES NOT JUDGE AN ACTION IN TERMS OF RULES OR LAWS BUT WHETHER OR NOT THE ACTION BENEFITS THE MOST PEOPLE. 3. PREFERENCE UTILITARIANISM FIRST PUT FORWARD BY JOHN HARSANYI (1977) PRACTICES THAT THE ULTIMATE CRITERION FOR DECIDING WHAT IS GOOD OR BAD FOR AN INDIVIDUAL IS JUDGED BY THE INDIVIDUAL’S OWN DESIRES AND PREFERENCES. NEGATIVE UTILITARIANISM BROUGHT ON BY R. N. SMART, INSTEAD OF JUDGING WHAT IS BEST FOR THE GREATEST GOOD THE PHILOSOPHY IS TO JUDGE BY WHAT CAUSES THE LEAST AMOUNT OF PAIN FOR THE MOST AMOUNT OF PEOPLE WHEN PRESENTED WITH A SITUATION THAT WOULD ENTAIL SUFFERING. NEGATIVE UTILITARIANISM WAS PROPOSED BY KARL POPPER. SMART OPPOSED IT. ACT UTILITARIANISM BROUGHT ON BY WILLIAM PALEY, DETERMINES IF AN ACTION IS RIGHT IF IT FOLLOWS A RULE THAT WILL MAXIMIZE UTILITY. PALEY WAS AN EARLY PROPONENT OF UTILITARIANISM WHO COMBINED UTILITARIAN ETHICS WITH CHRISTIAN APOLOGETICS. 4. ONE STRENGTH OF A UTILITARIAN VIEW IS THAT IT AIMS TO HELP SOCIETY EXIST IN A WAY THAT WOULD BENEFIT THE GREATEST AMOUNT OF INDIVIDUALS IN THAT SOCIETY. ONE WEAKNESS OF UTILITARIAN VIEW IS THAT IT DOES NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT WHO DOES THE ACTION, SO LONG AS THE CONSEQUENCES OCCUR. WHY IS THIS A WEAKNESS? THE MAIN WEAKNESS OF THE THEORY IS THAT IT CONTRADICTS OUR COMMON-SENSE ETHICAL VIEW THAT MOTIVES AND INTENTIONS MATTER AND THAT SOME ACTIONS SEEM WRONG REGARDLESS OF THEIR OUTCOME. 8. 5 POINTS.