Paper Assignment 1 Utilitarianism
docx
keyboard_arrow_up
School
Strayer University *
*We aren’t endorsed by this school
Course
2105
Subject
Philosophy
Date
Nov 24, 2024
Type
docx
Pages
4
Uploaded by vcnkemb97
Surname 1
Name of the student
Name of the instructor
Course
Due date
Utilitarianism
Explain Mill's utilitarianism
John Stuart Mill, a philosopher, developed the utilitarian ethical theory in the nineteenth
century. A type of consequentialism known as utilitarianism bases its judgment on whether a
course of action is moral or bad on its effects. According to Mill, morality should prioritize
assisting as many people as feasible. The term we use for this is the utility principle. According
to Mill, material things like money and power are only valuable to the degree they make us
happier. He also underlined the importance of individual liberty, arguing that individuals should
be allowed to behave however they like as long as they don't harm others.
According to Mill, we should consider how our choices will affect others and choose the
course of action that would result in the happiness of most people. This means weighing the
benefits and drawbacks of each option and choosing the one that will give you the greatest
satisfaction. John Stuart Mill's utilitarianism is often blamed for several ethical issues, including
the treatment of animals and severe poverty. A well-known modern philosopher named Peter
Singer makes the case that it is morally necessary to eliminate all human suffering using
utilitarian justifications.
Explain Singer's solution to world poverty.
Surname 2
According to well-known contemporary philosopher Peter Singer, everyone has a moral
obligation to end poverty in the world. The utilitarian principle, which states that individuals
should select acts that give them the maximum joy while minimizing their misery, forms the
basis of Singer's plan to eradicate world poverty. Singer contends that citizens of affluent
countries are ethically obligated to contribute a significant portion of their income to help end
global poverty. He advises individuals to keep giving until they are only of "marginal utility" or
until it becomes impossible for them to continue. Such generosity, in Singer's opinion, would be
extraordinary.
Singer contends that governments must help underdeveloped nations. He recommends
that wealthier nations donate at least 0.7% of their gross national product (GNP), the goal
established by the UN, as foreign assistance. Many nations, meanwhile, need to achieve this
goal. Singer's proposal to end global poverty has generated debate, with some claiming it
unfairly burdens citizens and governments. Singer contends that any trouble or discomfort
resulting from contributing is outweighed by the suffering of those living in severe poverty.
Describe how Singer is and is not a utilitarian.
Singer's utilitarianism differs from traditional forms of the theory in several ways. For
instance, Singer emphasizes the suffering of non-human animals and contends that treating them
morally on par with humans is appropriate. Additionally, he thinks people have a moral duty to
fight against poverty in the world, even if it means making big sacrifices for themselves. Another
noteworthy aspect of Singer's utilitarianism is its emphasis on the long-term effects of choices.
He contends that we must consider how our decisions will affect future generations and the
present. This implies that even if doing so means making large sacrifices in the here and now,
and we should take action to protect the environment and stop climate change (Thelken, p7)
Surname 3
Your preview ends here
Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version
- Access to all documents
- Unlimited textbook solutions
- 24/7 expert homework help
Surname 4
Works Cited
Singer, Peter.
The Singer Solution to World Poverty
, 1999.
Thelken, Hendrik N., and Gjalt de Jong. "The impact of values and future orientation on intention
formation within sustainable entrepreneurship."
Journal of Cleaner Production
266 (2020):
122052.