Utilitarianism Essay Examples - Argumentative Topics for Research Papers

Principles of the Theory of Utilitarianism

John Stuart Mill was an Englishman philosopher of the nineteenth century. His theory of Utilitarianism argues that morally correct actions are those that result in the greatest happiness for all affected. Does the theory work on an everyday life practice? Philosopher Bernard Williams has some opposite evidence about this theory. In his Critique of Utilitarianism, he claims that utilitarianism is committed to a doctrine of negative responsibility. The same claim has the Trolley Problem. Are these real problems for theory […]

A Case of Ethical Egoism and Utilitarianism

Right from our childhood, everyone whether parents or teachers tried to teach us that every action of ours has consequences. Clean our room, get extra desserts. Throw a tantrum, get sent to your room. But in reality, we were just being prepared for intellectual philosophical debates, to deal with morality, which is the distinction between right and wrong. It is believed by most of the philosophers that the ethical equality of an action is judged completely by its results. But […]

A Literary Analysis of Utilitarianism by John Stuart Mill and the One’s who Walk Away from Omelas by Ursula Le Guin

Through the course of this paper the author will try to demonstrate, depicting both sides of the argument, the reasons in which a follower of John Stuart Mill’s “Utilitarianism” would disagree with the events taking place in Ursula Le Guin’s “The One’s Who Walk Away from Omelas.” “The creed which accepts as the foundation of morals, Utility, or the Greatest Happiness Principle, holds that actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to […]

Is Ethical to Increase Minimum Wage

Thics is a natural comprehensive way of understanding life and the basis of moral judgement. Individuals have demonstrated different kinds of ethical thories in order to rationalize their behaviors and decision making. Typically this involves distinguishing right from wrong, defending and at the same time systemizing concepts. It is necessary to obtain a deep knowledge of human morality that should cohere to an individuals obligations and responsibilities. An ethical theory that has its strength and weaknesses is utilitarianism. This theory […]

When to Choose between Two Equal Undesirable Alternatives

Introduction When an ethical dilemma occurs in the field of medicine, there is a need to find a practical solution. There are different ways to approach a moral dilemma. The first step is determining the situation that causes the dilemma. It is challenging to identify an ethical dimension in a problem. Discussing the dilemma with seniors or colleagues is important although learning to make a reasonable decision in the face of the dilemma is critical. The main factor influencing an […]

Edward Snowden Actions

1. What is Edward Snowden’s argument supporting his decision to reveal the information according to his statement in The Guardian article? Summarize his argument. According to Edward Snowden’s statement in The Guardian article, he believed that the value of the internet, along with basic privacy is being destroyed by surveillance which NSA secretly building. He said that he did not want to live in a world where there is no privacy and no room for intellectual exploration and creativity even […]

Lifeboat Ethics is a Metaphor for the Process of Wealth

Lifeboat Ethics is a metaphor for the process of wealth and resource distribution as described by ecologist Garrett Hardin. In 1974, he published an article called, “Lifeboat Ethics: The Case against Helping the Poor,” that outlines his reasons that the wealthy nations worldwide should not be wholly responsible for supporting the needs of the poor. Donald Kennedy and William Clark both wrote articles in the concept of lifeboat ethics and the tragedy of the commons. In the article, Hardin defines […]

Moral Bounds

What are the moral bounds of sacrificing a child’s life for the enhancement of all others? How does living in a land with a buried burden affect its citizens? Although these rhetorical questions are complex and difficult to answer, this problematic situation is present in many contexts in our society today. In this paper I will argue that the captive child should be free to live, not just survive in LeGuin’s dystopian short story, The Ones Who Walk Away From […]

An Idea of the Utilitarian Perspective

When we consider the concept of utilitarianism we base it on the pleasures and pains we encounter and how they balance regarding maximizing happiness overall. As Jeremy Bentham defines, “whatever will maximize utility; producing the most pleasure or happiness and avoiding or preventing pain or suffering” in Sandel’s Justice (2007). When taking a utilitarianism viewpoint, the results and consequences, such as the overall happiness, are the focus point. Even further, John Stuart Mill’s principle of liberty argues that maximizing utility […]

Organ Donation and its Ethical Values

Abstract For this study the focus is on the ethical perspectives of organ donation. In this overview organ donation is defined as a consenting individual whom wanted to donate their organs. This is determined when the circulatory system in the body is no longer functioning (Thoung et el 2016). One of the primary perspectives that is associated with organ donation is Categorical Imperative. It follows the idea that as a society we can determine what is right or wrong based […]

Hurricane Katrina – August 2005

Hurricane Katrina hit the southern shoreline of the United States on August 28, 2005. The focal point of Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans on the morning of August 29, 2005. The staggering impact of this storm brought about in excess of 1,800 natives losing their lives, and in addition in excess of an expected $81 billion dollars in harms happened. By August 31, 2005, 80% of the city ended up submerged in light of the fact that the tempest flood […]

Theories for Business Ethics Making

All organizations, businesses, and individuals, regardless of size, geographic location, or social status manage a wide variety of ethical issues on daily basis. For centuries, societies and individuals have struggled to interpret what is the right way to behave and act upon in different circumstances. Analyzing the decision-making process and the circumstantial factors helps in understanding philosophical theories and influences like the consequentalist theories, deontological, and other models. In early human societies, right and wrong were often interpreted in accordance […]

The Principle of Utility

In John Stuart Mill’s Utilitarianism, he describes and explains the principle of utility and its importance to morality. Mills also breaks down the difference between direct and indirect normative utilitarianism. Bernard William’s piece Critiques on Utilitarianism shows a different side of the idea providing a different valuable perspective. I will be exploring Mill’s view and relating his ideas to some of William’s critiques. John Stuart Mill’s principle of utility provides us with a map to happiness. Mill’s speaks a lot […]

Ultartianisms Way of Life

Moral theories are meant to help us figure out what actions are right vs what actions are wrong. My ethical theory is based off of Consequentialism. Consequentialism says that an action is morally required just because it produces the best overall results. Consequentialism is not just a simply single theory but it is based off of several theories that all share the same agreement that results are what matter in ethics. The most prominent version of consequentialism is Utilitarianism. Utilitarianism […]

Utilitarianism’s Principles and Moral

Act utilitarianism is an action that is morally required just because it does more to improve overall well-being than any other action you could have done in the circumstances. The principle of utility states that you should always perform the action that maximizes overall utility. Act utilitarianism and the principle of utility is a large portion of what I am going to refer to in this essay. The moral worth of any action is determined by outcome or consequences which […]

A Question of Euthanasia

Introduction Humans are finite. This reality does not intimidate the mature Christian. The believer recognizes the opportunity to serve others is limited but nonetheless significant. The faithful follower seeks to live a temporary life for an eternal purpose. Even dying itself can serve this end. If only we were all mature Christians, then the approach to life and indeed to death would not be so varied and emotive. The reality is mature Christians are in the minority and death is […]

Ethical Dilemmas of Organ Transplants

According to Shaw (2011), organ transfer raises several ethical and emotional issues, especially in discussions around anonymity protocol. They take something from one persons life to save anothers. Some different opinions have come about regarding organ transplants: if the patient is brain dead or they went through cardiac death, should the organs be available to a recipient who needs them to continue life? I believe that organ transplants are helpful and ethical; they have the potential to save lives. Utilitarian […]

Ethics of Human Trafficking

There is a huge problem that has been constantly growing in the United States and worldwide. It has of become so dangerous that it is estimated that almost 14,500 and 17,500 individuals are victims of this every single year. This problem is of real humans becoming victims and being trafficked in and out of countries such as the United States and used for a variety of things completely against their will. This is a hidden business that has involved different […]

Experiments are Done Using Testing

Experiments are done using testing of many different species. Scientists use humans to determine certain things about society and use animals to test products, medications, or diseases. Such experiments can be ineffective or unnecessary due to these animals not even being able to attract the same diseases or disorders as many humans. With that being said, I argue that animal testing should not be tolerated under any circumstance because they are cruel and unreliable testing methods. Moral theories such as […]

Animal Testing is Commonly Used

Abstract Animal testing is commonly used for scientific or commercial testing nowadays. However, there are many different views from different people some may think that is good but some may think it is unacceptable. The use of animal testing results in some ethical issues that make it become a controversial issue.Within this essay, the principle of utilitarianism and deontology will be introduced. Also, we will show that how do the principle apply in animal testing. According to two different theories, […]

Donna Hendrix Autobiography

Introduction I am a member of Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric, and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN). AWHONN is an association that improves the care and outcomes of mothers and infants. I attend the AWHONN convention yearly. I share my knowledge with other nurses as well as learn from them. This last year I reviewed over 50 research projects in the poster room during the convention. I attended a class on Nurse Staffing Research: Update on Findings and Clinical implications this addressed […]

Capital Punishment for Society Protection

Introduction Over the course of humanity, one’s actions make an impact on himself and society that leaves the doer either rewarded or punished. Where the person intentionally harms another that ends their life, society has viewed justice according to the Code of Hammurabi as “eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth” to punish the criminal on height with the offense committed. Capital punishment has been the ultimate method to reassert the wrongness of the crime, its offense to society, […]

Ethical Dilemmas of Intellectual Property

The case regarding the companies Acme and Beta Inc. relate to patents. Patents are defined by the court as, “novel, useful, non-obvious and intangible ideas”, (Colonia, et al., 2005). These are inventions that must follow a set of guidelines and criteria subject to patent protections. Patents must be new inventions that provide the method or design of a new product. The patent must also be useful. This includes the process required to achieve the new product. While the product is […]

Is same Sex Marriage Morally Right

When you look at a family portrait, what do you see? You see your parents, your siblings (if you have any), and yourself. There is nothing wrong with that, but let’s be more specific. Your parents are both the same gender. Does that change anything? Do you feel disgusted and/or sorry for them? Do you feel that the generation is now be threatened? For example, will there be a generation if everyone is ‘gay’ and can not reproduce? However you […]

The Difference between Morals and Ethics

The difference between moral and ethics can seem somewhat arbitrary to many yet, in fact, there exists a delicate difference between these two respective ideas (Kayne, 2015). In this essay, the writer will attempt to present the difference between moral and ethics and evaluate the following ethical perspectives–utilitarianism, Rawls’s justice and fairness theory and communitarianism–as it is applied to business. Morals define personal character, while ethics stress a social system in which those morals are applied. In other words, ethics […]

Ethical Standards Require Businesses and Individuals to Use Moral Principles

One difference between an ordinary decision and an ethical one lies in “the point where the accepted rules no longer serve, and the decision maker is faced with the responsibility for weighing values and reaching a judgement in a situation which is not quite the same as any he or she faced before”. (Ferrell, Fraedrich, 1994) Ethics is not simply a glorified intellectual game, of no practical relevance. We become moral individuals by practice; good at being truthful by habitually […]

Ethics in Business in Corporate Responsibility

Introduction Ethics in Business in corporate responsibility is crucial and to the business world it has become of increasing concern over the last two decades. Anderson (1989) agrees that in today’s generation, businesses must also reflect on ethical, legal, social and moral; significances of their verdicts. For listed companies it is now mandatory that they include a section on corporate social responsibilities in their annual reports. However, CIMA (2010) argues that many firms routinely ignore ethical considerations despite codes of […]

Corporate Social Responsibility of Biedronka in Poland

PART A Introduction This report is concerned with the ethical practices of Biedronka (“Ladybird” in Polish), the largest supermarket chain in Poland. The report carries out a critical evaluation of the company’s current engagement with Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) agenda and identifies key ethical issues for the organisation. In particular this report looks at the record of employee grievances regarding forced overtime under threat of dismissal, falsifying of records to deny overtime payments and various instances of employee poor treatment […]

Business Ethics and Values

BUSINESS ETHICS AND VALUES The decision makers in the “Something Rotten in Hondo” are George the Plant Manager and Bill George’s boss. The primary stakeholders are George, George’s family (Mary his wife and two children) , EPA (Environmental Potential Agency), the Mexican government, the town of Hondo, all who are affected by the plants pollution and the environment. George had moved from E1 Pasco with his family four years ago, Texas to Hondo assuming the role of the manager at […]

The Importance of Ethics in Business

INTRODUCTION What is ethics? Ethics is a branch of Philosophy which addresses questions about morale; i.e about concepts morally what is good or bad ,right or wrong etc. An ethical statement can assert that some particular thing or action is right or may be wrong. Ethics can bring about the difference between good and bad characters or dispositions. It may propound few principles which help in more detailed judgments of these sorts, might be inferred – for example that we […]

Essays on Utilitarianism