Discuss whether or not an ethical judgement about something being good, bad, right or wrong can
be based on the extent to which, in any given situation, utility is best served.
Introduction
Define: Principle of utility/greatest happiness- The idea that the choice that brings about the
greatest good for the greatest number is the right choice.
Importance: If our only concern is to create the greatest good for the greatest number in any given
situation then the deontological factor of any given situation is disregarded.
Scholars: MacIntyre, Bentham, Mill
Conclusion: Ethical judgements about something being good, bad, right or wrong cannot be based
on the extent that utility is best served.
Paragraph 1
Point: Ethical judgements about something being good, bad, right or wrong cannot be based on the
extent that utility is best served.
Argument: Ethical judgements are about serving utility, in the view of utilitarianism- the judgement
weighs goods and evils and works out which option offers the best, or least bad option. This is a
practical benefit for utilitarianism in that there is never a situation where no option is right. Suppose
you are halfway across a rope bridge and see a child has slipped off and is hanging on at one end,
and an elderly person has slipped off and is hanging on at the other end. If you are the only person
then you must choose who to run to first and this may mean consigning the other person to a fatal
fall. A rule that says ‘always save life’ does not help, but utilitarianism might nudge you to run to the
child on the basis of the future life.
Counterargument: There might be goods other than utility. If an individual can be sacrificed because
of the interests of the majority, how can a utilitarian society be just? Alasdair MacIntyre criticises
utilitarianism as possibly justifying horrendous acts for the pleasure of the many. Do minorities have
no interests or rights that should be protected? The majority might prefer to see the minority locked
away life, or used for their own happiness but this would be unfair.
Paragraph 2
Point: Ethical judgements about something being good, bad, right or wrong cannot be based on the
extent that utility is best served.
Argument: Utility is what moral behaviour should be looking to maximise. The balance between
happiness and sadness caused is what should affect our decisions, not any idealised view of moral
commandments or rules. The principle of utility uses the human instinct to seek pleasure but applies
a democratic principle. It is not enough to talk about the individual when thinking about utility, we
must consider community and the sum of the interest of all the people in the community. In “A
Fragment on Government (1891) – Bentham says, “it is the greatest happiness of the greatest
number that is the measure of right and wrong”.
be based on the extent to which, in any given situation, utility is best served.
Introduction
Define: Principle of utility/greatest happiness- The idea that the choice that brings about the
greatest good for the greatest number is the right choice.
Importance: If our only concern is to create the greatest good for the greatest number in any given
situation then the deontological factor of any given situation is disregarded.
Scholars: MacIntyre, Bentham, Mill
Conclusion: Ethical judgements about something being good, bad, right or wrong cannot be based
on the extent that utility is best served.
Paragraph 1
Point: Ethical judgements about something being good, bad, right or wrong cannot be based on the
extent that utility is best served.
Argument: Ethical judgements are about serving utility, in the view of utilitarianism- the judgement
weighs goods and evils and works out which option offers the best, or least bad option. This is a
practical benefit for utilitarianism in that there is never a situation where no option is right. Suppose
you are halfway across a rope bridge and see a child has slipped off and is hanging on at one end,
and an elderly person has slipped off and is hanging on at the other end. If you are the only person
then you must choose who to run to first and this may mean consigning the other person to a fatal
fall. A rule that says ‘always save life’ does not help, but utilitarianism might nudge you to run to the
child on the basis of the future life.
Counterargument: There might be goods other than utility. If an individual can be sacrificed because
of the interests of the majority, how can a utilitarian society be just? Alasdair MacIntyre criticises
utilitarianism as possibly justifying horrendous acts for the pleasure of the many. Do minorities have
no interests or rights that should be protected? The majority might prefer to see the minority locked
away life, or used for their own happiness but this would be unfair.
Paragraph 2
Point: Ethical judgements about something being good, bad, right or wrong cannot be based on the
extent that utility is best served.
Argument: Utility is what moral behaviour should be looking to maximise. The balance between
happiness and sadness caused is what should affect our decisions, not any idealised view of moral
commandments or rules. The principle of utility uses the human instinct to seek pleasure but applies
a democratic principle. It is not enough to talk about the individual when thinking about utility, we
must consider community and the sum of the interest of all the people in the community. In “A
Fragment on Government (1891) – Bentham says, “it is the greatest happiness of the greatest
number that is the measure of right and wrong”.
