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learning from our lesson for
today.
 Attendance Check (Care of by the class secretary)
Review and Recall Questions:

“I will present review and

recall questions each slide
and you will type your
answers in our chatbox,
wait for my “go” signal
before you enter your
answers. Are you ready? 
 Review and Recall Questions:
1. This theory is based on the idea that our actions should be guided by moral principles
that are universally applicable. It believes that morality is not determined by the
consequences of our actions, but rather by the intentions behind them.

a. Divine Command Theory

b. Theory of Natural Law
c. Kant’s Theory
d. Social Theory

ANSWER: C
 Review and Recall Questions:
2. Which among the following describes the “Notion of Duty” based on Kant’s Theory?
a. refers to the moral obligation to act in accordance with universal moral principles, as
determined by reason, regardless of personal desires, feelings, or specific
circumstances.
b. Duty is seen as an objective and rational requirement that guides moral behavior and
serves as the foundation for ethical decision-making.
c. Doing what is right is not an option, it is mandatory!”
d. All of the above

ANSWER: D
Review and Recall Questions:

3. What are the two (2) types of imperatives in Kant’s Theory?

a. Hypothetical and Categorical Imperatives
b. Situational and Hypothetical Imperatives
c. Categorical and Situational Imperatives
d. Situational and Classical Imperatives

ANSWER: A
Review and Recall Questions:

4. How to follow the categorical imperatives based on formulations?

a. Duties toward Oneself
b. Duties toward Others
c. Duties toward God
d. A and B

ANSWER: D
Review and Recall Questions:

TRUE or FALSE. Human persons have rights

that are autonomous and universal, and
treats persons as ends.

ANSWER: TRUE
Introductory Question:

“This news was reported two (2) years ago. If you are
in the position of the government and in the other
concerning agencies such as WHO and DOH that time,
will you continue the implementation of COVID-19
Vaccination despite of several records of its side
effects? Why or Why Not?”
Kolehiyo ng Lungsod ng Dasmarinas
General Education Department
ETHICS
GEC2000

Utilitarianism
And other Ethical Theories that serves as Frameworks
and Principles Behind our Moral Disposition

Presentation by:
Bautista, Sansait. And Villacorte (2023)
Lesson Objectives:
After the discussion, you are expected to:
Explain the idea and concept of Utilitarianism
Determine the Pros and Cons of the idea of Utilitarianism
Explain and discuss other Ethical Theories that serves as
Frameworks and Principles Behind our Moral Disposition
Develop ethical skills for deciding in certain situations
 Utilitarianism Overview
The term “Utilitarianism” was
coined by John Mill but the
idea came from Jeremy
Betham
Bentham believes that pleasure
and pain are the motivating
factors of human behavior,
and such, all beings act towards
attaining pleasure and avoiding
pain.
Inspired by hedonism (holds
that pleasure or happiness is the
most important goal in life)
 What is Utilitarianism
The focus of which is not on the doer of the
action who makes the moral choices, not even
on the doer of the action, but on the
consequences of the action
(consequentialism)
The morality of the matter lies on the
consequences that the action may bring about
If the action has benefits to more people,
despite the nature of the action itself, then the
choice is considered good.
“Action is best when it produces the greatest
happiness for the greatest number (Price,
2000)”
What is Utilitarianism
Example:
• The Trolley Problem: Imagine you
are standing near a railway track,
and you see a runaway trolley
hurtling down the track. Ahead,
there are five workers who will be
hit and killed if nothing is done.
However, you notice a switch that
can divert the trolley to another
track where only one worker will be
affected.

“As a utilitarian, how will you respond

to this situation?

• As a utilitarian, you might argue that pulling the switch to minimize overall
harm and save the lives of five workers is the morally correct action.
Example:
• Environmental Conservation:
Let's say a company is planning
to build a factory in an area with
rare and endangered species.
The factory would create jobs
and boost the local economy but
could also lead to the
destruction of the habitat and
potential harm to the species.
“As a utilitarian, how will you respond
to this situation?

• Utilitarianism would involve weighing the overall happiness and well-being of the people
who would benefit from the factory against the negative consequences for the
environment. The decision would depend on an assessment of the overall impact on the
well-being of all affected parties.
Remember:
“Utilitarian principle still strongly
influence decision making in policy
construction in the areas of public
services like healthcare, criminal justice
and government (Vaughn,2008). This is
likewise observed in business and
industry”
Four Aspects of Utilitarianism:
1. Consequentialism – The aspect that determines the wrongness or
rightness of an action based on the outcomes or results of the action.
2. Welfarism – is the aspect of Utilitarianism which determines the rightness
and wrongness of actions based on society’s concept of welfare or well-
being.
3. Individualism – Focused on the individual whose behavior is expected to
gear towards actions that will bring him happiness. The rightness or
wrongness of his act depends on his subjective moral decisions to choose
anything that can make him happy.
4. Aggregation – rightness and wrongness of actions depend on the ability
to bring happiness to everybody.
Practice Test Four Aspects of Utilitarianism:
Identify which among the four aspects of utilitarianism are applied on the
following statements using the reactions available in our meeting.
Scenario: A company is considering adopting environmentally friendly
practices in its operations.

Consequentialism Welfarism Individualism Aggregation

Practice Test Four Aspects of Utilitarianism:
Scenario: A company is considering adopting environmentally friendly
practices in its operations.
The company takes into account the individual rights and interests of its employees,
stakeholders, and the wider community. They ensure that adopting environmentally
friendly practices respects the rights of employees, maintains job security, and aligns
with the values and expectations of their stakeholders.

Consequentialism Welfarism Individualism Aggregation

Practice Test Four Aspects of Utilitarianism:
Scenario: A company is considering adopting environmentally friendly
practices in its operations.
The company evaluates the potential consequences of adopting environmentally
friendly practices, such as reducing carbon emissions, minimizing pollution, and
conserving natural resources. They consider the overall impact on the environment
and the potential long-term benefits for society.

Consequentialism Welfarism Individualism Aggregation

Practice Test Four Aspects of Utilitarianism:
Scenario: A company is considering adopting environmentally friendly
practices in its operations.
The company evaluates the overall impact of adopting environmentally friendly
practices on both the company and society as a whole. They consider factors like the
reduction in environmental harm, potential cost savings through resource efficiency,
and the overall well-being and satisfaction of stakeholders.

Consequentialism Welfarism Individualism Aggregation

Practice Test Four Aspects of Utilitarianism:
Scenario: A company is considering adopting environmentally friendly
practices in its operations.
The company recognizes that environmentally friendly practices can contribute to the
well-being of individuals and communities by promoting a healthier environment.
They consider the potential positive effects on air and water quality, public health, and
the preservation of ecosystems.

Consequentialism Welfarism Individualism Aggregation

Kolehiyo ng Lungsod ng Dasmarinas
General Education Department
ETHICS

And other Ethical Theories

that serves as Frameworks
and Principles Behind our
Moral Disposition
 Justice vs. Fairness
1. Fairness is the quality of making judgements that are free
from discrimination. It is about treating individuals equally
and without bias. It involves giving everyone equal
opportunities and considering their circumstances.
For example, fair hiring practices or allocating resources
based on needs rather than personal characteristics.
2. Justice is about doing what is morally right and fair, based
on laws and principles. It involves treating people according
to their actions, rights, and the law.
For example, ensuring a fair trial in the legal system or
holding individuals accountable for harm they have caused
Main difference is that fairness is having a proper perspective
and justice is about the right thing done. Both are important
in creating a just and equitable society.
Observe the pictures, which situations shows
Inequality, Equality, Equity, and Justice?

B D

C A
Nature of the Theory of Justice
The concepts of justice makes it
inherently more important than
fairness
Distributive Justice – Also known as
economic Justice, is about fairness in
what people receive, from goods to
attention. It is concerned with the
responsibilities that society has to its
people.
Does not guarantee that all members
of the society will received equal
number of goods Ex. In giving “ayuda” for typhoon victims,
those people who were affected the most will
To Provide the citizens their rights to received more goods and services than
be protected by law. normal members of the society.
 Egalitarianism
Focus on equality more
than equity and justice
It is defined as ideology,
principle or doctrine
referring to equal rights,
benefits, and
opportunities or equal
treatment for all citizens
in the society.
 Capitalism
It is defined as economic system in
which trade, industry, and the means
of production are controlled by
private owners with the goal of
making profits in a market
company.
Happiness and growth are two
contributing factors. The more
money a company makes the more it
can invest in production, the more it
invests in production, the more it
makes money.
Money can buy things/make things
happen that will make us happy.
The top disadvantage is inequality
 Socialism
It is defined as a system or
theory of social organization
that advocates the vesting of
the ownership and control of
the means of production and
distribution of capital, land,
etc.
It emphasizes social welfare,
equality, and cooperation
“From each according to
their ability, to each
according to their need”
 Taxation and Tax
The state is built for the purpose of
serving the public and its citizen but a
state could not operate without its
citizens doing their part.
Taxation is a process through which
governments collect money from
individuals and businesses to fund
public goods and services, such as
infrastructure, healthcare, education,
and social welfare programs. Taxes are
typically based on various factors, such
as income, property ownership, and
consumption.
 Taxation in Socialism
In the context of socialism, taxation
plays a significant role. Socialism
advocates for a more equitable
distribution of wealth and resources in
society.
To achieve this, socialist governments
often implement progressive tax
systems, where individuals with higher
incomes are taxed at higher rates
compared to those with lower incomes.
The idea behind this approach is to
redistribute wealth from the rich to the
poor, aiming to reduce income and
wealth disparities.
Application of the Ethical Theories:
Group Activity: Each group will determine what ethical
theory (utilitarianism, justice, egalitarianism, capitalism,
and socialism) is being applied on the following solutions.
A representative from each group will click the “raised-
hand” button to answer. Here is the situation below:

Situation: The municipality of Dasmariñas is

considering implementing a new healthcare policy. The
policy would require higher taxes on the wealthy to fund
free healthcare for all citizens, including the
economically disadvantaged.
Application of the Ethical Theories:
GROUP 1: This theory would argue that equal access to
healthcare is a fundamental right. The policy would be seen
as just if it promotes equal treatment and ensures that no
one is denied medical services based on their
socioeconomic status.

Answer: Egalitarianism
Application of the Ethical Theories:
GROUP 2: This theory would support the policy as it
aligns with the principle of equitable resource distribution.
This would argue that healthcare is a basic human right and
that society has a collective responsibility to ensure that
everyone receives equal access to medical services, even if
it requires redistributive taxation.

Answer: Socialism
Application of the Ethical Theories:
GROUP 3: This theory would consider the overall
happiness and well-being of all stakeholders. It would
weigh the potential benefits of increased profitability for the
company against the negative impact of job losses on the
affected employees and their families. If the layoffs result in
greater overall happiness or utility, it might be considered
morally acceptable.

Answer: Utilitarianism
Application of the Ethical Theories:
GROUP 4: In this theory, the focus would be on
fairness and fairness in the distribution of resources
and opportunities. The decision to lay off employees
would be evaluated based on whether it treats
employees equitably and respects their rights to fair
treatment and job security.

Answer: Justice
Application of the Ethical Theories:
GROUP 5: This theory would generally support the
company's decision to lay off employees in pursuit of
increased profitability. The decision would be viewed
as a necessary market adjustment aimed at
maximizing the company's efficiency and
competitiveness.

Answer: Capitalism
Application of the Ethical Theories:
“It's important to note that ethical
perspectives can vary, and individuals may
hold different views within each framework.
These hypothetical situations are intended to
illustrate general considerations based on
each ethical approach.”
Assessment:
“Please prepare for an online quiz
regarding our lesson for today. It will
be assigned to our MS Teams Class.
Note: That our quiz will include real-
life situations where concepts that we
discussed were applied.” 
Thank You! 