Among the options, which one would be the maximizing choice, and how does that choice maximize overall happiness?
Philosophy
Imagine that you are jogging in the park one day and you see an overweight rich kid eating a triple-decker ice cream cone. Only a few feet away are three very poor, underfed and envious children. As a utilitarian you realise this is the kind of situation where utility/happiness could be maximized,
What options are available to you, which one would be the maximizing choice, and how does that choice maximize overall happiness?
Utilitarianism will usually explain our decisions about right and wrong quite well. For instance a utilitarian could easily show how his theory demonstrates the immoral nature of an action like child molestation. The pedophile does gain some pleasure, but his victim suffers a life time of tragic consequences, which massively outweigh the gain to the molester. So total aggregate happiness is not increased and the action is therefore immoral according to their theory What kinds of consequences would there be for each of your alternative actions in the park?
General comments: This paper topic is somewhat more involved than the previous three. It requires you to run through several steps in the argument and could require a somewhat longer paper to adequately discuss it. You can either defend utilitarianism by showing it gives the answer we know to be correct or criticise it by showing that in the right circumstances it could give an answer we know to be incorrect. (In this case it is almost certainly much easier to defend it.)
My professor told me it is better to agree with the argument… rather than to criticize it
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Utilitarianism is a very influential moral theory. According to this theory, the actions are either right on wrong depending on the effects they bring. Act utilitarian focuses on the effects of an individual’s actions. According to this theory, morality makes life better by increasing the amount of pleasure and happiness. If it positively contributes to the value of life for a person, then it is morally true. Utilitarianism evaluates the moral codes, character traits, policies, actions, and laws. This theory is simple, do what produces the best outcomes. Therefore, this discussion will identify the options available to realize maximum utility in the case where poor and envious children watched a rich kid eating a triple-decker ice-cream cone.
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