Utilitarianism And Its Criticisms Of Utilitarianism

Utilitarianism And Its Critiques Utilitarianism is a well known consequentialist ethical theory popularized in the 19th century by a philosopher named John Stuart Mill. Mill was one of the greatest proponents of utilitarianism but many philosophers since have revealed significant flaws with his theory, one being a more contemporary philosopher named Bernard Williams. Williams has many objections with utilitarianism, which i will divulge momentarily and determine whether these objections are justified. Fundamental to Mills theory is the Greatest Happiness Principle(The Principle of Utility), which goes as follows: â€Å"actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness.† (Sommers 220). In other words, one must maximize pleasure and minimize pain as much as possible to enable the most beneficial outcome for â€Å"all sentient creation† according to Mill. There were many critics of Mill besides Williams, with some proclaiming that such a pursuit for pleasure is an unworthy endeavor, and â€Å"a doctrine worthy of swine†. He defends his theory by dividing pleasures into higher and lower forms, with lower pleasures being mainly for animals(sex, gluttony, etc) and higher pleasures attained only by humans(love,literature,etc) which are more gratifying and qualitatively better. Now what defines a qualitatively better pleasure exactly? Mill states that if one would prefer the former over any quanti ty of the latter then theShow MoreRelatedCriticism Of Utilitarianism By John Stuart Mill895 Words   |  4 PagesOption 2 – Criticisms of Utilitarianism John Stuart Mill was a 19th century influential philosopher and strong advocate of the moral theory, utilitarianism. Utilitarianism centers on the idea that whether actions are morally right or wrong depends on their outcomes. Significantly, â€Å"the only effects of actions that are relevant are the good and bad results that they produce† (Nathanson). But this has led to many interpretations of utilitarianism and to challenges and criticisms it has receive overRead MoreEssay about Utilitarianism: Explanation And Study of Criticisms3046 Words   |  13 PagesUtilitarianism: Explanation And Study of Criticisms The dictionary definition of Utilitarianism is: The doctrine that the greatest happiness of the greatest number should be the guiding principal of conduct. When making a moral decision, we should look at the outcome of an action. Whatever brings the greatest happiness to the most people is the morally right decision. It is a consequentialist principal where the majority rules. It is also relative as each situationRead MoreEvaluating Utilitarianism - What are the main features of Utilitarianism as an ethical theory? 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In this essay, I will touch on these criticisms, outlining the major implications they propose to Utilitarianism. I will also explain why many of the notions proposed against Utilitarianism are self-serving, and instead serve to improve the general good of a minority population, which contradicts the Utilitarian theory of equating moral aptitude to the general good of a majority populationRead MoreMaking Decisions about Ethical Matters1742 Words   |  7 Pagessystems put in place to provide rules and guidelines as to how to ensure that what is decided is morally right. Here, we will take a look at the view of utilitarianism, and discuss a n important flaw it presents us with. Many articles include discussions that look at this in great depth, where it appears the once highly renowned system of utilitarianism has revealed to us various hidden flaws and complications. 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In his work, Utilitarianism, Bentham â€Å"sought to dispel misconceptions that morality has nothing to do with usefulness or utility or that morality is opposed to pleasure† (MacKinnon, 2012, p. 53). To simplify the utilitarian principle, which is one of utilityRead MoreDifference Between Utilitarianism And Nietzsche934 Words   |  4 PagesOne Philosophy Utilitarianism  and Nietzsche Utilitarianism is the actions that things are right by what makes others the happiest. Utilitarianism and Nietzsche theories are very important to know because they show us ways that our society conducts in. Knowing these theories can help us understand or even question the way we believe. The theory is Utilitarianism is an ethical theory of right and wrong and it solely relies on outcomes. Some criticisms of act-utilitarianism are slavery and the