THE MAIN IDEA OF UTILITARIANISM IS:

Secure the greatest good for the greatest number.

I. SITUATION

II. MORALITY OF ACTION

III. KEY NOTES

IV. GROUP DISTRIBUTION OF TASKS

 CASIMERO, JOEL
 AMOTO, NOREEN MARK
 GO, MITZIE
 DG
 G
 G

V. REFERENCES

II. Types of Utilitarianism There are basically two branches of utilitarianism. They both agree that
the goal of ethics is to maximize happiness. But they disagree on where that decision should be
applied: Act Utilitarianism argues that we should always choose our actions based on what will
cause the greatest amount of happiness. Rule Utilitarianism argues that we should figure out what
sort of behavior usually causes happiness, and turn it into a set of rules. Example: Take the
example of a judge sending a murderer to prison. Say the judge knows the convict will not commit
any more violent crimes, and wants to be lenient based on this knowledge (maybe the convict is
very old or terminally ill). The judge knows that this will make the convict very happy, not to
mention their family and friends. Imagine that the victim’s family has forgiven the convict and will
not feel pain as a result of this decision. Should the judge let the convict go? Act utilitarinism says
yes, because this maximizes happiness while causing no future pain in this case. But rule
utilitarianism says no, because in general convicts must be punished for their crimes, even if there
is no chance that they will commit future crimes. The judge should follow the rules, according to
this argument, even if in this particular case the rule isn’t necessary. III. Utilitarianism vs.
Deontology vs. Virtue Ethics Utilitarianism is the mo

II. Types of Utilitarianism There are basically two branches of utilitarianism. They both agree that
the goal of ethics is to maximize happiness. But they disagree on where that decision should be
applied: Act Utilitarianism argues that we should always choose our actions based on what will
cause the greatest amount of happiness. Rule Utilitarianism argues that we should figure out what
sort of behavior usually causes happiness, and turn it into a set of rules. Example: Take the
example of a judge sending a murderer to prison. Say the judge knows the convict will not commit
any more violent crimes, and wants to be lenient based on this knowledge (maybe the convict is
very old or terminally ill). The judge knows that this will make the convict very happy, not to
mention their family and friends. Imagine that the victim’s family has forgiven the convict and will
not feel pain as a result of this decision. Should the judge let the convict go? Act utilitarinism says
yes, because this maximizes happiness while causing no future pain in this case. But rule
utilitarianism says no, because in general convicts must be punished for their crimes, even if there
is no chance that they will commit future crimes. The judge should follow the rules, according to
this argument, even if in this particular case the rule isn’t necessary. III. Utilitarianism vs.
Deontology vs. Virtue Ethics Utilitarianism is the mo