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Utilitarian ( consequentialist )

Utilitarian ( consequentialist ). Utilitarianism Proposes that an action is right if it produces the most utilities(benefits) for all persons affected by the action (including the person performing the act).

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Utilitarian ( consequentialist )

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  1. Utilitarian( consequentialist ) Utilitarianism Proposes that an action is right if it produces the most utilities(benefits) for all persons affected by the action (including the person performing the act). Example: Is it right to let one patient die in order to harvest his organs and perhaps save five lives?

  2. Utilitarian (cont’s) Utilitarianism:Holds that actions and policies should be evaluated on the basis of the “benefits” and “costs” they will impose on society. In any situation the right action or policy is the one that will produce the greatest net benefits and less cost. Note: Benefits here means happiness and satisfaction or monetary benefits.

  3. Utilitarian (cont’s) Example: The government may appropriate private property for public use, usually with compensation to the owner. Thus the government may legally purchase your house from you to widen the highway- even if you don’t want to sell the house or want more money than the government is willing to pay. The public interest is served at your private expense. Is this just?

  4. Problems with utilitarianism 1:Sacrificing sufferings of some people for the general benefits of others: Example: Medical researchers initiated a long range study of viral hepatitis at New York institution of mentally retarded children. They deliberately infect some of the children with a strain of hepatitis virus epidemic(disease). According to utilitarian’s the suffering of some individuals was justified because it maximize the total happiness produced.

  5. Problems with utilitarianism 2:Some actions are wrong even if they produce more good: Like utilitarianism focuses on the result of an action. Example: If a dying woman has asked you to promise to send 25,000$ to her nephew and she dies without anyone else knowing about the money. You also know the nephew is spendthrift and a drunkard and were the money delivered to him it would be wasted in a week. On the other hand very fine orphanage needs such a sum, something that would provide happiness to many children for years to come. Being a utilitarian you should give the amount to the orphanage.

  6. Utilitarianism and Organization Utilitarianism make it appealing as a standard for decision making in business and non-business organizations. Utilitarianism provides a clear and straightforward basis for formulating policies. By utilitarian standards, an organizational policy, decision or action is good if it promotes the general welfare.

  7. 02:Non consequentialist Theory These philosophers contend that right and wrong are determined by more than the likely consequences of an action. Example: Tom to break his promise to Fred is wrong not simply because it has bad results ( Fred hurts feelings). but because of the inherent character of the act itself.

  8. Rights Principle • Rights Principle: The morally correct action is the one that you have a moral right to do. • According to this view, all people have natural rights to life, liberty, and property, and everyone is morally permitted to do anything they wish, provided that their actions do not violate the rights of other people.

  9. Rights principle Rights are entitlements • Example: Right to free speech • Example: Right to freedom of religion • Example: Right to an education

  10. Distributive Justice Distributive Justice Principle: The morally correct action is the one that produces a fair distribution of resources(benefits and burdens). Each person receives resources according to how much they deserve (in terms of contribution, effort or merit.)

  11. Distributive Justice (Fairness) General Fairness Principles: • People who are similar in relevant respects should be treated similarly • People who differ in relevant respects should be treated differently. • If Jack and Jill both do the same work, and there is no relevant difference, then in justice they should be paid the same wages. • And if Jack is paid more than Jill simply because he is a man, or because he is white, then we have an injustice

  12. Ethics of Care Care Principle: The morally correct action is the one that appropriately cares for the people with whom you have relationships. • Example: love toward son or daughter versus love toward a stranger

  13. Ethics of Care • Care for the needs of people with whom you have relationships. Examples: ( Care for your own needs) • Family • Friends • Employees • Customers • Stockholders

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