A Critique Of Hedonism And Utilitarianism - 1418 Words

Ethics and Morality Ethics ties together philosophy and human morality, it explores the techniques and principles used to evaluate human actions on their goodness, badness, rightness, and wrongness. In this paper, I am going to give a critique of hedonism and utilitarianism. (and answer the question of what makes something good or bad) Humans cannot be truly objective when it comes to morality. In theory, morality is supposed to be unbiased, but when it is put into the hands of humans, there is always going to be errors. Naturally, people pursue their self-interest without thinking much about if it is morally right or wrong. However, I do believe that God has given us a set of laws as to what is right or wrong without being bias over it, but we can even interpret that in the wrong ways. Some points that may be argued for certain things that are always truly wrong include: rape, child abuse, or murder, but there are still times when murder may not be considered wrong. For instance, we have a whole army to go out and kill in order to support our country and keep us safe. Who would say that was wrong? Another example of humans altering the definition of morality is there are things about today that are considered right or wrong that were not that way in the past, such as slavery or woman’s rights. How can we call something wrong today and know it will still be that way tomorrow? In today’s society, people are constantly using their thoughts and feelings to justify morality,Show MoreRelatedRobert Nozicks Experiment, The Experience Machine and the Inclusion of Meta-Pleasure722 Words   |  3 Pagesdisprove the utilitarian notion of hedonism through a thought experiment that he has entitles â€Å"The Experience Machine† (Nozick 646). I will first explain the concept of utilitarianism and hedonism, then the experience machine before I give a reply about the inclusion of a third category of pleasure which I have called â€Å"meta-pleasure† . Finally, I will show how technology may be disproving the entire experience machine thought experiment altogether. Utilitarianism is a moral theory that seeks to defineRead MoreUtilitarianism : A Workable Moral Theory? Why Or Why Not?958 Words   |  4 PagesUtilitarianism: A Workable Moral Theory? Why or Why Not? Utilitarianism is one of the most commonly used ethical theories from the time it was formulated by Jeremy Bentham and John Stewart Mill in the nineteenth century. In his work, Utilitarianism, Bentham â€Å"sought to dispel misconceptions that morality has nothing to do with usefulness or utility or that morality is opposed to pleasure† (MacKinnon, 2012, p. 53). To simplify the utilitarian principle, which is one of utilityRead MorePerfectionism About Happiness And Higher Pleasures789 Words   |  4 Pages(Summary) In Chapter 3, â€Å"Perfectionism about happiness and higher pleasures,† Mill attempts to reassure readers that the utilitarian can and will defend the superiority of higher pleasures, such as poetry. He notes that hedonism can still defend higher pursuits as extrinsically and instrumentally. To see Mill’s point, Brink states that all other things have only, or at most, extrinsic value: they have value in relation to or for t he sake of something else that has intrinsic value. Mill claims thatRead MoreUtilitarianism, And The Moral Imperative1575 Words   |  7 Pages In this essay I intend on arguing the legitimacy of utilitarianism, and if its principles can be subjected effectively to society today. Utilitarianism, which is a common term in normative ethics, is a moral doctrine that coordinates and specifies evaluation and moral actions through three recommendations. These recommendations are the criterion of good and evil, a moral imperative, and a measured evaluation. A criterion of good and evil emphasizes on the happiness and stakeholdersRead MoreUtilitarianism And The Moral Imperative1575 Words   |  7 Pages In this essay I intend on arguing the legitimacy of utilitarianism, and if its principles can be subjected effectively to society today. Utilitarianism, which is a common term in normative ethics, is a moral doctrine that coordinates and specifies evaluation and moral actions through three recommendations. These recommendations are the criterion of good and evil, a moral imperative, and a measured evaluation. A criterion of good and evil emphasizes on the happiness and stakeholdersRead MoreUtilitarian Arguments1681 Words   |  7 Pagesbest arguments against Utilitarianism, and show in my own opinion, why I think they are wrong. The strongest counterargument against Utilitarianism would have to be Sterling Harwood’s eleven objections to the theory. Sterling Harwood states that even he does not accept all eleven of his objections, but he merely wants to survey a large number of objections and provoke further discussion. (p. 186) Harwood’s objections are applied to all twelve versions of Utilitarianism, which are motive, actRead More Immanuel Kants Ethics Of Pure Duty and John Stuart Mills Utilitarian Ethics Of Justice2753 Words   |  12 PagesMetaphysics of Morals and John Stuart Mills Utilitarianism Immanuel Kant and John Stuart Mill are philosophers who addressed the issues of morality in terms of how moral traditions are formed. Immanuel Kant has presented one viewpoint in The Grounding For The Metaphysics of Morals that is founded on his belief that the worth of man is inherent in his ability to reason. John Stuart Mill holds another opinion as presented in the book, Utilitarianism that is seemingly in contention with the thoughtsRead MoreMoral Philosophy Is An Area Shrouded By Debate Essay1934 Words   |  8 PagesThe prevalence given to pleasure in moral philosophy is an area shrouded by debate. Fundamentally the argument becomes one of utilitarianism opposed by deontological ethics. Other theories such as egoism and virtue ethics provide examples of how one should live a moral life which, depending on the defined notion of pleasure, could have the value prescribed to their theoretical guides for how to lead the moral life. Often when we consider what is pleasurable our th oughts delve towards the emotionsRead MoreMoral Judgements Are Morally Wrong?2025 Words   |  9 Pagesconsequentialism is the view that actions should be deemed morally right or wrong based on the outcomes an action has. A consequentialist would compare the end results of two different actions and their interest is in the conclusion of the action. Utilitarianism is a branch of consequentialism that believes that the best action is the one that promotes the most utility. This also means that actions need to present the most overall good for all and not just a single person. John Stuart Mill, a nineteenthRead MoreThe Principle Of Utility Explicit That Actions Or Behaviors Are Right1810 Words   |  8 Pagesin so far because they motivate contentment or pleasure, wrong as they tend to develop unhappiness or sadness. Therefore, usefulness is a teleological principle. This once again gives rise to some of the similar fundamental issues concerned with hedonism, as discussed in the earl ier section on Teleological Hypothesis. Recall a memory that a pleasure-seeker believes that the good life constitutes only in the pursuit and experience of pleasure or contentment. The feelings of contentment and sadness