Utilitarianism Scholars

Question 1

G.E Moore and Hume

Answer 1

Both raise the is does not entail ought and as such it is not necessarily the right thing that we seek pleasure as the highest end of human existence.

Question 2

Bernard Williams

Answer 2

Utilitarianism is not Holistic enough, it does not account for the impact existing morals have on people

Question 3

John Rawls

Answer 3

He argues that utilitarianism is too willing to put aside the universal human rights everyone has in pursuit of the greater good.

Question 4

Peter Singer

Answer 4

Argues that utilitarianism can provide the mechanism to create a more just world for all beings, not just humans, especially when “best interests” are considered
“My interests cannot, simply because they are my interests, count more than the interests of anyone else”

Question 5

Jeremy Bentham

Answer 5

created the concept of utilitarianism to make a fairer and more equal society based on rational maximisation of pleasure
“the greatest good for the greatest number”

Question 6

WD Ross

Answer 6

Utilitarianism should be rejected because it is counterintuitive- we have some time of duty and just because 2 actions do not have the same outcome does not mean they are morally right.

Question 7

Alasdair McIntyre

Answer 7

In Short History of Ethics in 1966, said that utilitarianism could be used to justify horrific acts such as the holocaust.

Question 8

Alhuwalia and bowie support of Rule utilitarianism

Answer 8

the Highway Code- whilst it may suit me to drive differently, and it may not matter in a specific instance, there are fewer accidents overall if we adhere to the rules.