Is Utilitarianism Correct?

They key with open ended questions like this is to have an opinion and express it consistently, keeping a flowing argument. In my opinion utilitarianism isn't correct. I would answer this question by first setting out whether consequentialist (act focussed rather than intention focussed) ethical theories are accurate, which I would they aren't due to moral luck - Kant's example of a murderer asking you where your neighbour is and you say ingthey're in your garden (you're lying), but whilst you've been talking your neighbour chose to hide in your garden is appropriate to use here. I would then run through two of the biggest issues with utilitarianism: how to quantify the subjective nature of happiness (even when using Bentham's Hedonic Calculus issues arise) and of how it does not respect the views of minorities (even Mill's rule utilitarianism justifies the scapegoating of minority groups - the analogy of Jim and the Indians is another good example to use). Then I can coherently conclude that Utilitarianism is too problematic to be considered 'correct'.

JF
Answered by Jonathan F. Philosophy and Ethics tutor

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