Bill and Bentham - Essay Example

no. Bill and Bentham QUESTION Utilitarianism argues that the morality of an action is determined by its adherence to the principle of greatest happiness, which guides people to cause the greatest amounts of happiness for the largest number of people. The outcome of a certain action must be considered before making any moral decision. Utilitarianism state that punishment for a crime inflicts fear on the crime and that the death penalty or capital punishment is better for killers. According to them, taking a killer’s life would prevent the taking of other innocent lives.

If the consequences of imprisoning the murderer and permitting him to live may result in more killings; therefore, the death penalty is considerable and appropriate for killers. The utilitarian theory does not support eye for an eye in the sense that, if a man kills another, he should also be killed. The death penalty here deters any other criminal from committing the same crime or the occurrence of a similar crime. In this case, the death penalty takes someone’s life and would prevent him or her from taking more lives; thus, providing the greatest happiness to the greatest number of people.

QUESTION: 2Utilitarianism holds that the best course of action is that which maximizes happiness and reduces suffering (Bentham 67). The moral worth of an action, according to this theory is only determined by its result. Any action intended to control the population for the purpose of inflicting happiness and comfort on the remaining people would be considered ethical, according to utilitarianism. If the action prevents suffering for people, any action can be taken to prevent high population growth and make people glad to live.

However, they believe that population control is vital for improving the stipulation of the working class so that they may enjoy outcomes of capital accumulation and technological progress. The multiplication of jollies with respect to the growth in population would not inflict any immorality provided that everybody is glad about his/her life and that no suffering is encountered as a result of unemployment caused by overpopulation.QUESTION: 3 According to utilitarianism, it is illogical and unreasonable to eliminate from the end any pleasure and feeling of any sentient being.

They argue that animal rights should be granted according to the level of a creature’s self-awareness without considering their species. However, if this would be strictly observed, our diets would be affected as people would not want to kill animals for meat. Utilitarianism suggests that it is easy for human beings to avoid eating other animals. If individual animals are carriers of utility, people should then consider limiting the grasping activity of carnivores and at least limit the current subsidies to the carnivores of nature.

In addition, other consequences of observing the utilitarian principles would pose changes in institutional operations (Bentham 45). The grant of animal rights would not allow their use as specimens in laboratories. According to utilitarianism, the majority of the animals seem not to enjoy the experience of discomfort which dictates the denial of their moral rights. Therefore, the moral values of all organisms and other living animals are only in the benefit they give to sentient beings. Utilitarianism does not provide a direct intrinsic value to biodiversity.