The Principle Of Act Utilitarianism - 3018 Words

Principle 1: Act Utilitarianism ‘Act Utilitarianism looks to single actions and bases the moral judgment on the amount of pleasure and the amount of pain this single action causes’ (Crane and Matten, 2010, p. 104). The Resolution/Argument Using the table above to analyse the consequences of Ben-Artzi’s decision to blow the whistle under the principle of Act utilitarianism, we argue that his decision was morally wrong. Our rationale is that the decision Ben-Artzi took inflicted more pain than gain to a greater amount of people. From the table, we can see that only the SEC, Ben-Artzi and some investors benefited directly from his decision. Ben was relieved of his troubled conscience and his story gained considerable media coverage. His decision to capitalise on the level of attention the story received by writing a book on his experience also served him positively. Analysis: Balance of benefits and losses Ben-Artzi capitalises on enhanced regulatory provisions empowering the United States’ Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) to encourage and motivate corporate whistleblowing in order to check incidences of corporate malpractice of the financial kind in the United States. His decision helps provide deeper insight into the nature of financial malpractices Wall Street banks and other financial institutions engaged in in the build up to the financial crisis of 2008. From the insight gained, the dimensions of regulatory oversight over the financial system are enhanced, bothShow MoreRelatedAct Utilitarianism Versus Kant s Principle Of Ends Essay1199 Words   |  5 PagesAct Utilitarianism versus Kant’s Principle of Ends. Introduction There are many theories out there when it comes to any kind of ethics. I will be discussing Act Utilitarianism and Kant’s Principle of Ends. Both are good theories, but they do have their differences. I think that how we perceive either of these depends on how we were brought up by our families and what we believe in when it comes down to making decisions. While both are similar theories they are also different in their own wayRead MoreCan Utilitarianism Be Defended Against The Injustice Objection?1361 Words   |  6 PagesCan Utilitarianism be defended against the Injustice Objection?    In this essay, I will argue that utilitarianism cannot be defended against the injustice objection. Utilitarians may be able to reply to the injustice objection in some cases by invoking one of two replies, the ‘Long term consequences’ reply, in which utilitarians will avoid unjust actions that increase short-term utility because in the long-term they will not lead to the greatest good. The other reply that may help utilitarianism avoidRead MoreRelationship Between The Principle Of Utility And Moral Rules1462 Words   |  6 PagesEvaluate Mill’s understanding of the relationship between the principle of utility and moral rules. In this essay I will argue that Mill thinks that there is a strong relationship between the two concepts, although he regards moral rules as having a subordinate relationship towards the principle of utility. Mill is a rule utilitarian who believes moral rules are useful guidelines for everyday uses, but reverts to the principle of utility in complex moral situations. In this essay I will also argueRead MoreMill s Utilitarianism : Utilitarianism1251 Words   |  6 PagesMill’s Utilitarianism For centuries philosophers have attempted to explain morals, creating ideas that break this ethical system down into basic components. English philosopher, John Stuart Mill, was a large contributor to the idea of utilitarianism. Although Mill’s utilitarianism provides a strong argument for explaining morality, it is not a bulletproof theory. J.S. Mill’s Principle of utility, also known as the greatest happiness principle, is an ethical philosophy that looks at the developmentRead MoreDifference Between Utilitarianism And Nietzsche934 Words   |  4 PagesPhilosophy Utilitarianism  and Nietzsche Utilitarianism is the actions that things are right by what makes others the happiest. Utilitarianism and Nietzsche theories are very important to know because they show us ways that our society conducts in. Knowing these theories can help us understand or even question the way we believe. The theory is Utilitarianism is an ethical theory of right and wrong and it solely relies on outcomes. Some criticisms of act-utilitarianism are slavery and the act that itRead More Jeremy Bentham : Father of Utilitarianism Essay1444 Words   |  6 Pages Assess the merits of Utilitarianism (24 Marks) Utilitarianism is a theory aimed at defining one simple basis that can be applied when making any ethical decision. It is based on a human’s natural instinct to seek pleasure and avoid pain. Jeremy Bentham is widely regarded as the father of utilitarianism. He was born in 1748 into a family of lawyers and was himself, training to join the profession. During this process however, he became disillusioned by the state British law was in and set outRead MoreUtilitarianism Can Not Be Defended Against The Injustice Objection1162 Words   |  5 Pagesessay, I will argue that utilitarianism cannot be defended against the injustice objection. Utilitarians may be able to reply to the injustice objection in some cases by invoking one of two replies, the ‘Long term consequences’ reply, in which utilitarians will avoid unjust actions that increase short-term utility because in the long-term they will not lead to the greatest good. The other reply that may help utilitarianism avoid injustice in some cases is the ‘Secondary principles’ reply, where some rule-basedRead MoreKants Moral Theory and Utilitarism Comparison Essay1166 Words   |  5 PagesKantâ€⠄¢s moral theory and utilitarianism are two very different moral theories. Kant’s moral theory works off of the categorical imperative. Utilitarianism works off of the greatest happiness principle. Morality and right action are very different within these two theories, and the idea of slavery is a good example of the differences. Utilitarianism can allow slavery, whereas Kant’s moral theory cannot allow slavery. Kant’s moral theory uses the categorical imperative as its basis. The categoricalRead MoreEssay on Utilitarianism1264 Words   |  6 PagesUtilitarianism There are many essays, papers and books written on the concept of right and wrong. Philosophers have theorized about moral actions for eons, one such philosopher is John Stuart Mill. In his book Utilitarianism he tries to improve on the theories of utilitarianism from previous philosophers, as he is a strong believer himself in the theory. In Mills book he presents the ideology that there is another branch on the utilitarian tree. This branch being called rule-utilitarianismRead MoreUtilitarianism : Utilitarianism And Rule Utilitarianism871 Words   |  4 PagesUtilitarianism, which is also called consequentialism, is a theory in normative ethics. It is one of the best known and most influential moral theories. The main idea of utilitarianism is to determine whether actions are morally good or bad, right or wrong depends on their consequences rather than intentions. (Moreland 1) In order to understand utilitarianism, it is important to learn about Jeremy Bentham, who is the influen tial philosopher represented utilitarianism the best. The utilitarianism