Objections to Utilitarianism - 1467 Words

OBJECTIONS TO UTIILITARIANISM SECTION (1) INTRODUCTION We noted, last week, that UTILITARIANISM is a version of CONSEQUENTIALISM in that it holds that the RIGHT action (in any given situation) is the action WHICH HAS THE WHICH HAS THE BEST CONSEQUENCES; CONSEQUENTIALIST ethical theories may be contrasted with DEONTOLOGICAL – or DUTY-BASED theories (such as Kant’s) Now, some ( but not all) deontological theories are versions of ABSOLUTISM - i.e the doctrine that some actions are so wicked†¦show more content†¦(5) You should not sell arms to an evil regime EVEN IF others will sell them if you dont.(Cf the case of George in Singer,85) (6)You should not kill an innocent (friendless but healthy) person EVEN IF by doing so (and giving his organs to several others) you could increase net happiness. These cases pose great difficulties for the Utilitarian. (Many (if not all?)have to do with what Jonathan Glover calls THE ACTS AND OMISSIONS DOCTRINE; this states that `in certain contexts, failure to perform an act, with certain foreseen bad consequences of that failure, is morally less bad than to perform a different act which has identical foreseen bad consequences.(Thus it is worse to KILL someone than merely to LE T SOMEONE DIE (or to let someone else kill them. Thus some Catholics would justify the bombing of military targets in The Second World War even when such bombing was bound to cause civilian casualties). The Utilitarian is committed to REJECTING The Acts and Omissions Doctrine; but this seems unacceptable. (Failing to send money to the starving is wrong, but it is not as wrong as sending the starving poisoned food – Philippa Foot). SECTION (4) ACT-UTILITARIANISM vs RULE-UTILITARIANISM There are, clearly, some very strong objections to Utilitarianism. Do these objections (taken together ) amount to aShow MoreRelatedCan Utilitarianism Be Defended Against The Injustice Objection?1361 Words   |  6 PagesCan Utilitarianism be defended against the Injustice Objection?    In this essay, I will argue that utilitarianism cannot be defended against the injustice objection. Utilitarians may be able to reply to the injustice objection in some cases by invoking one of two replies, the ‘Long term consequences’ reply, in which utilitarians will avoid unjust actions that increase short-term utility because in the long-term they will not lead to the greatest good. The other reply that may help utilitarianism avoidRead MoreUtilitarianism Can Not Be Defended Against The Injustice Objection1162 Words   |  5 PagesIn this essay, I will argue that utilitarianism cannot be defended against the injustice objection. 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Pojman s No Rest And Justice Essay1384 Words   |  6 PagesUtilitarianism is the concept that â€Å"holds that actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness; wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness.† In summation, the consequentialist theory states, in reference to Dr. Peetush, that morally â€Å"good† actions are those that promote â€Å"the greatest good for the greatest number of people.† For instance, if a utilitarian were faced with the dilemma of having to kill an innocent for the welfare of 100 other innocents, he would justifyRead More »Explain Why Mill Distinguishes Between Higher and Lower Pleasures and Assess Whether He Achieves His Aim or Not. «1501 Words   |  7 Pagespleasures and assess whether he achieves his aim or not. « March 2005, St Andrews In his Essay Utilitarianism Mill elaborates on Utilitarianism as a moral theory and responds to misconceptions about it. 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