Pros And Cons Of Act Utilitarianism

Utilitarianism is one of the best known and most influential moral theories. Like other forms of consequentialism, its main idea is that whether actions are morally right or wrong depends on their effects. More specially, the only effects of actions that are relevant are the good and bad results that they produce.

Utilitarian Position

• Act-Utilitarianism is a utilitarian theory of ethics which states that a person’s act is morally right only if it produces as much happiness as any other act that the person could perform at that time.

Pros and Cons of act-utilitarianism: Act utilitarianism is often regarded as the most natural interpretations of the utilitarian ideal. If our aim is always to produce the best results, it seems plausible to

To make the correct moral choices, we have to understand what our moral duties are and what correct rules exist to regulate those duties. When we follow our duty, we are behaving morally. When we fail to follow our duty, we are behaving immorally. Typically, in any deontological system, our duties, rules, and obligations are determined by God. Being moral is thus a matter of obeying

Kant poses the question of what the fundamental source of mortality is, or: What is it about people’s actions that make them susceptible to evaluation as right or wrong? He states that: actions of plants or inanimate objects, actions performed by animals out of instinct, and actions performed by humans involuntarily and not classified as right or wrong. Kant concludes that the source of morality is our ability to rationally make decisions, and our possession of free will.

Trolley Case The case of a trolley barreling towards five people, and you can save all five people by pushing one other person in front of the trolley. It’s pretty crazy and hard to decide what to do in this theory. If you look at it from an act-utilitarian point-of-view, they would say the best decision is whatever would make you happier. To them pushing that one person in front of the trolley would be the best decision to help save the five people.

If rule-utilitarians look at this theory they might say that the best choice is the one that leads to the greatest good. Compared to the act-utilitarians they believe that the right thing to do would be the choice that would mean the most and have the most effect on