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The Utilitarian
Approach
P1: An action is right
if and only if it promotes the best consequences
P2: The best consequences are those that maximize
happiness
The Greatest Happiness Principle:
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“Actions are right in
proportion as they tend to produce happiness, wrong as they tend to produce
the reverse of happiness”
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Consequentialism
+ Hedonism
+ Impartiality
Why the theory is so radical
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Application #1:
Euthanasia
1. The
morally right thing to do is whatever would bring about the greatest balance
of happiness over unhappiness.
2. On at
least some occasions, the greatest balance of happiness over happiness may be
brought about by mercy killing
3. \On at
least some occasions, mercy killing may be morally right
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Application #2:
Consideration of animals
1. The morally
right thing to do is whatever would bring about the greatest balance of
pleasure over pain.
2. Both
human and nonhuman animals, can feel pleasure and pain.
3. \We
are required to consider the interests of both nonhuman and human animals.
4. \At
least some of our treatment of nonhuman animals does not bring about the greatest balance of pleasure
over pain.
5. \At
least some of our treatment of nonhuman animals is not morally permissible.
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