Scribd
Upload
83 views12 pages

Utilitarianism-The-Consequentialist-Ethical-Framework

Uploaded by

torres.giyafrancine1
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
83 views12 pages

Utilitarianism-The-Consequentialist-Ethical-Framework

Uploaded by

torres.giyafrancine1
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 12

UTILITARIANISM: THE

CONSEQUENTIALIST
ETHICAL FRAMEWORK
GROUP 4
UTILITARIANISM: THE
CONSEQUENTIALIST ETHICAL
FRAMEWORK
Utilitarianism is a prominent ethical theory within the broader category of
consequentialism. It evaluates the morality of actions based on their outcomes or
consequences, emphasizing the maximization of overall happiness or utility.

Utilitarianism holds that an action is right if it tends to promote happiness and wrong if it
tends to produce sadness, or the reverse of happiness—not just the happiness of the
actor but that of everyone affected by it.

IN SHORT IT IS MORE ON THE QUANTITY RATHER THAN THE QUALITY.


CORE PRINCIPLES
1. The Greatest Happiness Principle: Actions are morally right if they promote the
greatest happiness for the greatest number of people. Happiness is often defined
as pleasure and the absence of pain.

2. Utility as a Measure: Utility refers to the net balance of pleasure over pain. An
action's ethical value is determined by its capacity to increase utility.

3. Impartiality: Every individual's happiness is considered equally. No one's well-


being is prioritized over another's, promoting fairness.
TYPES OF
1.Act Utilitarianism: UTILITARIANISM
• Evaluates the morality of each individual act based on its consequences.
• For example, lying is acceptable if it results in a greater overall benefit in a
specific situation.

2.Rule Utilitarianism:
• Focuses on adherence to rules that, when followed universally, lead to the
greatest happiness.
• For example, a rule prohibiting lying might be justified because trust in society
promotes overall happiness.
KEY THINKERS
1. Jeremy Bentham (1748–1832):
• Founder of utilitarianism.
• Advocated for a "hedonic calculus," a method to quantify pleasure and pain.

2. John Stuart Mill (1806–1873):


• Refined Bentham's ideas.
• Distinguished between higher (intellectual) and lower (physical) pleasures,
arguing for the qualitative aspects of happiness.
STRENGTHS OF
Practicality: UTILITARIANISM
• Provides a straightforward method for decision-making by focusing on tangible
outcomes.

Flexibility:
• Can adapt to diverse contexts and scenarios, considering various factors in
moral dilemmas.

Focus on Collective Good:


• Emphasizes the well-being of society as a whole, promoting altruism and
reducing harm.
CRITICISMS OF UTILITARIANISM
1.Challenges in Measuring Happiness:
• Quantifying and comparing subjective experiences of pleasure and pain can be
difficult.

2.Potential for Injustice:


• In some cases, maximizing happiness for the majority might harm minorities or
individuals, leading to ethical dilemmas.

3.Demanding Nature:
• Requires individuals to always act in ways that maximize utility, which can be
unrealistic in personal contexts.
APPLICATIONS IN
MODERN ETHICS
Public Policy: Utilitarian principles are often used to justify policies, such as cost-
benefit analysis in healthcare or environmental regulation.

Business Ethics: Decisions in corporate social responsibility and stakeholder


management often draw on utilitarian reasoning.
UTILITARIANISM IN
TECHNOLOGY AND AI
Utilitarianism an ethical framework focusing on maximizing overall happiness and
minimizing harm, plays a crucial role in the development and application of
technology and artificial intelligence (AI).

• Ethical Decision-Making
• Programming Ethical Decisions
• Social Impact
• Challenges
HISTORICAL CONTEXT AND
EVOLUTION OF UTILITARIANISM
Utilitarianism is an ethical theory that emerged in the late 18th century, primarily
through Jeremy Bentham, who introduced the "Principle of Utility" to maximize
happiness and minimize suffering. John Stuart Mill later expanded on Bentham's
ideas by distinguishing between higher and lower pleasures and emphasizing
individual rights. The theory evolved into forms like act and rule utilitarianism,
addressing critiques about justice and individual rights. Today, philosophers like
Peter Singer adapt utilitarian principles to encompass global ethics, animal rights,
and environmental issues, maintaining its relevance in contemporary moral
discussions.
CONCLUSION
Utilitarianism provides a robust framework for evaluating
moral actions based on their consequences. While its
emphasis on the collective good and measurable outcomes
makes it a compelling ethical theory, its limitations
necessitate careful application and balance with other moral
principles.
THANK YOU

You might also like