Utilitarism Essay

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UTILITARIANISM is expressed in the phrase. “The greatest good for the greatest number” Describe the utilitarian theory of Ethics with references to both Bentham and Mills in 2,000 words. UTILITARIANISM is expressed in the phrase. “The greatest good for the greatest number” Describe the utilitarian theory of Ethics with references to both Bentham and Mills in 2,000 words. Introduction Utilitarianism is the movement which came into realisation in the late 18th century, early 19 century as a result of English philosopher, social reformer and political radical Jeremy Betham’s Utilitarian theory of Ethics. Utilitarianism was then further developed by Stuart Mills (20 May 1806 – 8 May 1873). Utilitarianism is a normative ethical theory that places the locus of right and wrong solely on the outcomes (consequences) of choosing one action/policy over other actions/policies. Utiliotarianism is the belief that the sole standard of morality is determined by its usefulness. It moves beyond the scope of one's own interests and takes into account the interests of others. In this essay I will examine the Ethical Theory of Utility, its background and its influence upon society to determine if Utilitarianism can be expressed in the phrase “ The greatest good for the greatest number.” U·til·i·tar·i·an·ism 1 [Columbia Encyclopedia] Noun: • The doctrine that actions are right if they are useful or for the benefit of a majority. • The doctrine that an action is right insofar as it promotes happiness, and that the greatest happiness of the greatest number should be... Background Jeremy Bentham was the father of Utilitarianism, he was of the left liberal view, influenced by the French revolution and by many enlightenment thinkers, especially empiricists such as John Locke and David Hume.
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