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Forum Discussion #7 Utilitarianism

Utilitarianism is a moral theory that evaluates actions based on their consequences. Specifically, whether actions are right or wrong depends on whether they produce the greatest balance of pleasure and pain, or happiness, across all affected. Utilitarianism aims to maximize well-being and minimize harm. In business, the utilitarian approach evaluates decisions based on their net benefits and costs to all stakeholders. It strives for the greatest good for the greatest number.

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86 views3 pages

Forum Discussion #7 Utilitarianism

Utilitarianism is a moral theory that evaluates actions based on their consequences. Specifically, whether actions are right or wrong depends on whether they produce the greatest balance of pleasure and pain, or happiness, across all affected. Utilitarianism aims to maximize well-being and minimize harm. In business, the utilitarian approach evaluates decisions based on their net benefits and costs to all stakeholders. It strives for the greatest good for the greatest number.

Uploaded by

Lisel Salibio
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Forum Discussion #7: Utilitarianism

In this forum, I want you to discuss the following about Utilitarianism:

 1. How do you define utilitarianism?


 2. What are the causes and effects of this moral theory on man?
 3. In your opinion, does utilitarianism have good or bad effects on business? 

Support your answer.

You are encouraged to use 2 sources/references that will serve as the basis of your
argument. You must write in complete sentences and your post shall contain a minimum
of 200 words. You are also required to reply to at least one of your classmates'
responses. Your reply should be substantive and composed of 100 words.

1. How do you define utilitarianism?

One of the most influential moral theories is utilitarianism. It primarily promotes acts that
contribute to happiness and discourages negativity in any form. It usually involves
taking acts that increase a person's pleasure and well-being. It takes into account all
human interests on an equal footing. The ethically good conduct had the maximum net
happiness for everyone, according to Jeremy Bentham, a significant proponent of
utilitarianism. To figure out which action was ethically correct, one had to sum up all of
the units of happiness and deduct all of the different types of sadness that the activity
would cause. In general, whatever is being evaluated, we ought to choose the one that
will produce the best overall results.
Since the core idea of this moral theory is that whether actions are morally right or
wrong depends on their effects. Specifically, the only effects of actions that are relevant
are the good and bad results that they produce. In case of it’s cause and effect,
utilitarianism seeks to achieve the greatest good for society. All of us wish for a perfect
world filled with equal possibilities and enjoyment, but due to the countless inequalities
among our sub-groups, this objective is impossible to realize. Nonetheless, using the
utilitarian principle, which focuses on the greater good of the collective rather than
everyone, we can achieve optimum amounts of happiness in our lives. This theory is
based on the fact that it seeks concepts that bring the greatest amount of joy into our
lives while limiting the potential for harm in our families, communities, and culture as a
whole.
One popular approach to corporate ethics and decision-making is utilitarianism, which
focuses on the consequences of a decision rather than the ethics of the decision itself.
The utilitarian approach evaluates a decision based on its consequences or outcomes,
that is, the net benefits and costs to all stakeholders on an individual level. It strives to
achieve the greatest good for the greatest number while creating the least amount of
harm or preventing the greatest amount of suffering. It maintains that when making a
choice, all entities' interests should be weighed equally, including those of other species
because they are likewise capable of suffering.

Our moral clarity is dependent on the opinions of the entire community rather than
individual viewpoints. It also provides a forum for individuals to express their views,
which are discussed by the city before being accepted into society. It means that no one
in the community can consent to make a bad decision just because it makes you happy.
It will only approve to ideas and tactics that make the entire city happy while not
damaging or infringing on the enjoyment of others.

References:
Duignan, B. and West, . Henry R. (2021, March 2). Utilitarianism. Encyclopedia
Britannica. Retrieved November 17, 2021, from
https://www.britannica.com/topic/utilitarianism-philosophy

OpenStax. (2018, September 20). Utilitarianism: The greatest good for the greatest
number. Business Ethics. Retrieved November 17, 2021, from
https://opentextbc.ca/businessethicsopenstax/chapter/utilitarianism-the-greatest-good-
for-the-greatest-number/.

Indeed, utilitarianism primarily promotes acts that contribute to happiness and


discourages negativity in any form and usually involves taking acts that increase a
person's pleasure and well-being. . Therefore the act and results are conceived in
accordance to the agents end desires of gaining happiness and therefore such acts are
so guided. In any situation, a rational human being shall strive to be maximally happy all
the time. We also need to keep in our minds that the happiness of the majority is more
of importance to judge on the morality of an action as per the results of the action. What
this means is that, an act must be guided in such a way that the consequences causes
maximum happiness and minimal pain to the majority of the people.

Indeed, utilitarianism primarily involves acts that increase happiness, promote acts that
discourage negativity in all ways, and usually enhance one's joy and well-being. ..
Therefore, actions and outcomes are considered according to the agent's desire for
gaining happiness or pleasure, and therefore such actions are dictated as such. In any
situation, we as a rational person tend to always strive to be as happy as possible. On
the other hand, we must also recognize that the happiness of the majority is more
important in determining behavioral morale based on the outcome of the behavior. This
means that actions must be taken in such a way that the consequences cause the
greatest happiness and the least pain for the majority of people.

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