What are the merits of utilitarianism? What is an objection? Do you use utilitarian thinking in your moral decision making? If yes, how so? If no, why not?
66 Comments
Robert
5/22/2015 01:31:52 am
Some merits of utilitarianism are that it makes the most people happy. A problem though are satist who get pleasure from others pain. I do use this way of thinking to get the most people happy as possible.
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Cole Lyons
5/22/2015 05:50:01 am
I agree with Robert, in a perfect world, utilitarianism would work. However the world is not perfect.
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Conner
5/22/2015 05:54:28 am
I third this motion as well. Not everyone's happinesses are the same. A sociopath may have pleasure in things that make no sense to anyone else.
tanner
5/22/2015 01:32:07 am
what is good for masses i think i use it some of the time
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Alexander
5/22/2015 05:55:53 am
I agree tanner
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Dolly Decker
5/22/2015 01:32:18 am
1. The morality of an action is particular to cases
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Carly
5/22/2015 01:38:14 am
The eighth disadvantage is most of the reason why I am hesitant to use utilitarianism in my everyday life. It's impossible to generalize what everyone desires, and it gets really complicated to determine what the solution is from a utilitarian approach.
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NSTR
5/22/2015 01:34:07 am
It makes the mass happy. Yes, when making decisions one will often lean towards the option that benefits the most people including themselves.
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Trinity
5/22/2015 01:34:59 am
Utilitarianism is good because it raises the average level f wealth for the population. It runs into some problems by trying to rationalize the killing of innocent people as a means to a better end, but does the end really justify the means? I use utilitarian decision making if it doesn't harm life.
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Thomas
5/22/2015 05:56:08 am
I agree. It is good because it puts the good of the many in front instead of being advantageous to the few. It is generally useful, however it runs into problems because it can be used as a rational for atrocities. I try and be a little utilitarian in my life for specific issues.
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Michele McClure
5/22/2015 01:35:19 am
Utilitarianism is simple, makes many people happy, and is unselfish. But, it can often justify situations that are not okay (such as accidentally killing children during an air strike aimed to kill an enemy). Utilitarianism also leaves the question of "Whose happiness is this maximizing?" I think that I sometimes use utilitarianism, but more often not because I can be a little selfish sometimes.
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Anna Ely
5/22/2015 05:53:25 am
I agree with Michele. It's hard to do things to ensure the happiness of others all the time. I feel like we all want to say that's what we want, but most of the time we are just doing things mostly for the benefit of ourselves and those near us at the time.
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Alex Farrell Skupny
5/22/2015 05:56:21 am
I agree with Michelle, its good for the happiness of the masses but one's instinct is to choose for themselves in from an evolutionary survival standpoint and sometimes you should be selfish in that aspect.
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Rebecca Brown
5/22/2015 01:36:51 am
Utilitarianism is when achieving the most amount of happiness in a community. I like to think I use this method, for example if I'm having family and friends over I choose the flavor of ice cream most people will like.
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Estefani
5/22/2015 01:37:47 am
A merit of utilitarianism includes what is best for the masses, maximizing happiness to a generally big group of people rather than just one person. A problem with it is that some people get enjoyment out of others suffering. I think I do use this way of thinking because I generally do things in a way that I can maximize the happiness of the people around me.
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Arilyn
5/22/2015 01:37:48 am
It's beneficial to a larger majority. Can be used to justify a wrong doing.
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Clara
5/22/2015 01:38:05 am
I think I use utilitarianism some of the time when making moral decisions but not 100% of the time.
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Josie
5/22/2015 01:41:42 am
I think people naturally use a utilitarian approach. When weighing options I think it is normally instinctive to choose the option that is in everyones best interest.
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Haley
5/22/2015 02:28:27 am
I agree with Josie because I feel like people naturally make decisions due to what will make the most people the happiest.
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Nick G
5/22/2015 04:26:06 am
I agree with you Josie in that I've witnessed this. It usually seems like people look to provide the most happiness to as many people as they can
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Morgan
5/22/2015 06:49:35 am
I agree with Josie. Most of us use the utilitarian approach, we make decisions on what makes everyone happy.
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Emma
5/22/2015 06:50:04 am
I agree with Jos because you make decision based on what will make you happy. You wouldn't pick something that would bring you down
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Ed
5/22/2015 01:42:24 am
Utilitarianism is nice because it seeks for the general welfare rather than someone's own gain an objection arises when the idea of morallity is overshadowed by utilitarianistic goals. I don't normally use utilitarianism in my way of thinking because I'm selfish and it's too difficult to find the best option for everyone rather than just buy a cookie for myself or something
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gus altfaro
5/22/2015 02:26:37 am
this seems like an awesome subject but i dont understand it enough to say yes or no so ill say sure why not.
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Elia
5/22/2015 02:26:51 am
The merits of utilitarianism are making others happy, and includes doing the right thing. However, it leads to the breaking of promises and meaningless actions unless they benefit others. I apply some utilitarian morals in my daily life, but not completely due to its reprocutions.
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anahi fregoso
5/22/2015 02:27:19 am
Utilitarianism is achieving the most happiness for everyone even if it means only one. I think I use utilitarianism because it makes sense to me that more happinesses Is more better
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Leidy Tovar
5/22/2015 02:28:05 am
The positives of utilitarianism is that it is simple, and makes other people happy. But then it puts into question where do you draw the line? Basically does the end justify the mean? And then the idea of that do you really know what you want or what makes you happy? and pleasure and genuine happiness are not the same. I think I may use a little bit of utilitarianism in my decision making, but it is not as prominent
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Sarah
5/22/2015 02:29:19 am
Utilitarianism maximizes the majorities happiness and I would like to think that I follow this but I dont and what about the minority's happiness which doesnt align with the majority
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Oscar
5/22/2015 02:29:40 am
Utilitarianism is when achieving the most amount of happiness in a community.I think people naturally use a utilitarian approach, and individually to themselves .
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Edgar
5/22/2015 02:30:00 am
Can be used to justify when a wrong was made
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victor
5/22/2015 04:22:15 am
true Edgar it help to identify when we have done something wrong true
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veeder
5/22/2015 02:30:24 am
Utilitarianism seeks to maximize happinesses however sometimes conflicting circumstances can make it difficult if not impossible. I try to take a utilitarian approach to morality.
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Jeffrey
5/22/2015 02:42:11 am
Veeder put this well, Utalitarianism seems perfect on paper. But there are gaps in the belief system. Highest amount of happiness for the most people is not always the moral way to go.
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McKlean
5/22/2015 04:22:32 am
Utilitarianism is neither here nor there. Simply be organized, be provocative.
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Ale
5/22/2015 04:22:37 am
I think I use utilitarianism some of the time when making moral decisions but not all the time.
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Taylor
5/22/2015 04:24:38 am
Utilitarianism is revolved around the pursuit of pleasure. However, pleasure by itself does not contribute to a happy life and is relatively short term. I do not use utilitarianism in my thinking, but rather focus on the effects of my actions and how I will feel later down the road.
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ryan
5/22/2015 04:25:21 am
i think it is a good idea but there arre several flaws such as when people have different ideas of what is good for the most people and nobody realy knows what is good for everybody
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Omar
5/22/2015 04:26:38 am
Utilitarianism is something that naturally happens without the need of thinking about it too much. Many agree to this as well as disagree. There will never be a perfect agreement with this
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Chris Saladin
5/22/2015 04:28:03 am
Utilitarianism works most of the times, but when it runs into problems is when people don't agree on what is good and what is moral. What is good for the most amount of people is whats right.
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Jack Preston
5/22/2015 05:53:56 am
I agree Chris, everyone has their own definition of how to define right from wrong.
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DaVon Browne
5/22/2015 05:56:30 am
I agree with chris utilitarianism works for a large amount of issues but at the same time when someone disagrees with the norm then you can run into problems.
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Mike Pollock
5/22/2015 04:34:58 am
Some of the merits of utilitarianism are focused on the idea of morals.Although there are advantages and disadvantages that can object this idea.
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Paco Cortes
5/22/2015 05:52:42 am
Utilitarianism would please the majority of the population, but there will always be someone who disagrees with the final decision. I do use utilitarianism in my decisions so that I may make others happy in the decisions I make.
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Julio
5/22/2015 05:56:00 am
Yeah I agree. I do also use utilitarianism in my decisions
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Lily
5/22/2015 05:54:18 am
Utilitarianism requires you to make decisions in order to make the as many people as happy as you can. I disagree with utilitarianism if you use it for every decision. Sometimes these decisions are not great even if they benefit the most people, they could still hurt other people involved. I say that this practice could be used for some decisions but not all.
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Anya
5/22/2015 05:54:55 am
Utilitarianism aims to maximize people's happiness and minimize their pain. An objection to this is that sometimes people's pleasure is gained through others pain. I don't think I practice utilitarianism actively because I tend to think of my well being before the well being of the greater good. This is not to say that I take actions to disrupt the pleasure of others, however their well being is not always a main motivator for me.
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Maraya
5/22/2015 05:55:03 am
Pleasure and happiness are not one in the same.
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Mandy M.
5/22/2015 05:55:52 am
Sometimes I use utilitarianism in my moral decision making. I like doing things that benefit both me and society. For example, volunteering at a homeless shelter. However, I do not base all of my actions on whether or not it benefits society.
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Enrique Lopez-Segura
5/22/2015 05:59:52 am
The merits of utilitarianism come from the idea that unhappiness will be at a minimum. The objection to this is that sometimes the person who is unhappy is being treated unequally. I do use this kind of thinking in making my moral decisions usually when I take out my dogs for a walk versus staying home and playing video games.
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Stacy
5/22/2015 06:00:50 am
The basis of utilitarianism is to make decisions that make the most people happy. The problem with that is that there is no individual satisfaction because all decisions are based on whether it is good for an entire group.It gets complicated sometimes because it is difficult to draw the line and be a bit selfish. I think I do live my life in such a way because I want everyone to be happy.
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Alondra Plancare
5/22/2015 06:48:51 am
I agree, and to further support this idea, I think that individual happiness is a hopeful thought yet general welfare is a more practical truth. This conflicts us with moral obligation and individual pursuit. Raises the question, Can we have it both ways?
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Tessa
5/22/2015 06:48:46 am
By judging people solely on their actions, it's basically impossible to justify immoral acts, which is essentially judging without any bias. However, the downside of this is that if someone grew up legitimately NOT knowing between right or wrong, or some other circumstance along those lines, judging solely on actions would be unfair to the actor of actions.
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Karla C
5/22/2015 06:48:58 am
A good thing about utilitarianism is that, as a leader, it helps one make decisions that will benefit the majority of the people. However, the downside of it is that minirities get excluded and underrepresented. While I don't necessarily use utilitarianism in my moral thinking, I would most certainly use it in my leadership decisions. I don't really use it in my moral decision making because I believe in doing what I believe to be morally correct or what will be best for me.
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Valentina
5/22/2015 06:49:45 am
The central idea of utilitarianism is that when confronted with as decision between 2 things chose the option that makes the most people happy. I believe the problem with this is that 1 person can be just as important as millions of people.
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Josh
5/22/2015 06:50:04 am
Utilitarianism has a very simple rule that can easily become somthing that justifies the evils of the world.
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Stephen
5/22/2015 06:50:49 am
Pleasure is something that you have for a short amount of time and happiness is a long term feeling. Pleasure cannot compare to happiness and is only a part to complete happiness in all
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Alo Alcala
5/22/2015 06:51:00 am
I think every indivudial at some point applies utalitarianism. It depends on each individual to completely or partly apply it. It obviously has good and bad repercussions, but I think wha should really be considered on this is who is being affected the most by it.
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Julia
5/22/2015 06:51:16 am
Utilitarianism, like everything, has its ups and downs. I support how it is in favor of keeping the majority happy, however it's also tricky because everyone has different opinions on happiness or what is morally right.
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Gannon Laidlaw
5/22/2015 06:51:31 am
Many people who try to become successful using utilitarianism can often run into issues because of what oneself wants over what others want. I see myself as someone who would do things to make others happy, but only if I'm also semi-happy with the actions i am doing.
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Suby Rolano
5/22/2015 07:08:05 am
I agree with Gannon because I also find myself doing things to make other people happy but not if it interferes with my own happiness
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Raul
5/22/2015 06:53:29 am
I tend to try and make my choices in a a utilitarian way.
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Marie Van Keuren
5/22/2015 06:54:01 am
I believe a majority of people try to use a utilitarian approach to their decisions, but in reality the world can be a pretty cruel place. Also a lot of people are looking out for themselves and,although, I believe it is indeed important make yourself happy, finding the balance between the greater good and the good of yourself and family may be difficult but possible.
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Becka
5/22/2015 06:54:13 am
The best parts of utilitarianism is the that the main goal is happiness, the main con is that people can be thrown under the bus fr the greater good. I'd like to say I would make the utilitarian choice but in the end i will always choose the thing that makes me the happiest.
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Lauren Jaffe
5/22/2015 06:56:41 am
Utilitarianism is good in the sense that it seeks to maximize happiness for everyone. The issue with that principle is that some of your own desires may be lost compared to the majority of others. I think it's human nature to involve utilitarianism in out thinking process because we do naturally tend to consider how things will affect others as well as ourselves.
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Alani Flores
5/22/2015 06:57:42 am
Utilitarianism are those who evaluate people based on the consequences of their actions. I personally do not use this ideology, rather I go more deeply when it comes to getting to know a person (friend).
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Vanessa
5/22/2015 06:58:02 am
Utilitarianism has its cons and pros. It establish that when you are making a decision you have to maximize happiness and minimize bad things.
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