• Philosophy -> History of Philosophy

• 0 Comment

Is Utilitarianism a practical and effective ethical framework, or are there flaws in its reasoning?

Travis Serrels

Utilitarianism is a philosophy that argues that the best action is one that maximizes overall happiness or pleasure in society. It is a practical and effective ethical framework in terms of promoting the well-being of individuals as well as promoting overall happiness in society. However, there are some flaws in its reasoning that might affect its practicality as an ethical framework.

One of the main criticisms of utilitarianism is that it reduces moral decisions to a simple calculus of pleasure and pain without taking into account the complexity of human life. According to utilitarianism, the morality of an action is determined solely by how much pleasure it generates for the greatest number of people. But human beings are not simple pleasure-seekers, and moral decisions often involve complex and conflicting considerations. For example, if a doctor has a limited supply of a lifesaving drug, utilitarianism would dictate that the drug should be given to the patient who has the greatest chance of survival. However, if one of the patients is a parent who has young children, the emotional impact of the decision is much greater when the impact of the drug on the patients is the same. In this case, utilitarianism may not be the most effective ethical framework because it doesn't take into account the emotional cost of the decision on the doctor, the children, and the patients.

Another criticism of utilitarianism is that it doesn't account for the long-term consequences of an action. People often pursue short-term pleasures that end up harming them in the long-term, like smoking or eating unhealthy foods. An ethical framework that only considers short-term pleasures is limited in its effectiveness as it fails to address the long-term consequences of actions. In this case, a more holistic and balanced approach to ethics that takes into consideration both the short-term and long-term consequences of actions is required.

Furthermore, one of the main issues with utilitarianism is that it may sometimes justify actions that are commonly considered immoral. For instance, if an action would result in happiness for a majority of people, but it requires the sacrifice of a minority, utilitarianism would justify the action. This brings up the question of whether or not utilitarianism is capable of guaranteeing justice, which is an essential aspect of morality. A practical ethical framework should take into account both happiness and justice as essential aspects of moral decision-making.

In conclusion, utilitarianism can be a practical and effective ethical framework in promoting the well-being of individuals and societies. However, it is not without flaws, and one should consider the complexity of real-world situations and long-term consequences of actions when applying utilitarianism. A more balanced ethical framework is required to address all the aspects of morality and justice.