Truman Utilitarianism

A historical example of utilitarianism is when United States President Harry S. Truman ordered the second atomic bomb to drop on Japan in August, 1945. Although the first atomic bomb dropped three days prior on Hiroshima, Japan, killing over 70,000 people, the Japanese still did not abdicate in the war with America. “In late July, Japan’s militarist government rejected the Allied demand for surrender put forth in the Potsdam Declaration, which threatened the Japanese with ‘prompt and utter destruction’ if they refused” (History.com staff). With no response from Japan, President Truman ordered the dropping of the first “…atomic bomb in the hopes of bringing the war to a quick end” (History.com staff). Therefore, three days after the first atomic

bomb dropped, President Harry S. Truman ordered the second atom bomb to drop on Japan-Nagasaki. Ultimately, the Japanese surrendered after the second bombing on Nagasaki.
To view this scenario from a Utilitarian perspective, Truman, being of higher status, knew that dropping the atomic bombs on Japan would kill thousands of innocent people. However, the U.S. President also understood that, at the time, he had the upper hand in the battle and the A-bombs would cripple Japan and cease any disposition Japan planned for America. Later, evidence was discovered of Japan’s method of attack, a “…device was scheduled to be completed Aug. 19, 1945 — four days after Japan announced that it was surrendering” (Adelstein). In August, 1945, America dropped the two atomic bombs on Japan. With this knowledge, Truman’s decision to devastate Japan may be deemed as ethically moral and be seen as having the majority of society’s best interest in mind, therefore, making his decision feasible.