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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
An 8 page paper. The writer reacts to this stimulus statement: "In spite of the validity of some of the criticisms leveled at utilitarianism, there is no theory which provides a more rational guideline for the legislator." An explanation of utilitarianism is offered first. The writer then illustrates that a legislature that was to function exclusively under the principle of utility would not serve the society. Bibliography lists 5 sources.
Page Count:
8 pages (~225 words per page)
File: MM12_PGutleg.rtf
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
a brief description of the meaning of utilitarianism. John Stuart Mill defined utilitarianism as the belief that accepts the foundation of morals, utility, or the Great Happiness Theory and Mill
holds that actions are right in proportion to the amount of happiness that is promoted and wrong in proportion to the lack of happiness. Utility, in other words, would maximize
happiness and minimize unhappiness (1987). Mill further defined happiness as pleasure and the absence of pain and unhappiness as pain and the lack of pleasure. Thus, one can conclude that
utilitarianism is defined as pleasure and freedom from pain, and these two conditions are the desirable ends to which all persons strive (1987). Moreover, pleasure is a qualitative rather than
a quantitative condition and it is individual. The good versus bad consequences, which is another way of saying the utility of the consequences, is related to the society as
a whole, OR, the moral decision is the one that has the greatest benefit for the greatest number of people. Barcalow describes two types of utilitarianism: * Act Utilitarianism: This
has to do with right versus wrong and good versus bad as determined by the consequences of the act. The consequences have to do with whether or not the act
increased or decreased overall happiness or whether they have utility. Acts are evaluated based on their expected utility, not the actual utility that may be derived from the act. *
Rule Utilitarianism: Again, this has do with right/wrong, good/bad but the morality is determined by following a correct moral rule that will increase or decrease overall happiness or utility. In
other words, choices are based on the rules and the rules are evaluated in terms of their expected utility to the society (Barcalow, 1992). Rules, such as the laws
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