Utilitarianism

[alb0zfinest]

Utilitarianism is essentially a theory that holds that your one purpose is to maximize utility. So the rightness or the wrongness of an action depends if utility is maximized. The intent is irrelevant. Now there is obviously much more to Utilitarianism but this is the underlying idea.
Now I wanted to ask a few questions: What do you think of this? is it right or wrong by your standards?

[alb0zfinest]

No one into philosophy huh?

[McCauley]

I would seek to maximize efficiency (at the personal cost of others) if it benefits me or my family, but as far as working for the man? Nah, fuck the government, if I worked for the government I'd probably slack off as much as possible while only doing the bare minimum to earn my paycheck.

[Breedingvariety]

Utilitarian utopia would be all people having food and shelter. That's the essence of goodness in utilitarianism. Anybody who has more than that, should give away to homeless and starving to achieve highest absolute utility.

It seeks to achieve most happiness for all, but it doesn't explain what happiness is. How can you work (synonym of good in utilitarianism) towards an unknown goal?

[Pinatèu]

Utilitarianism is understandable but misguided. From a purely utilitarian point of view, things such as art and faith are contemptible as they serve no direct purpose. Yet, both tend to influence individuals deeplier than tangible realities, proving that they, despite possessing no quantifiable value, are as much part of our lives as the cold hard facts that condition directly our existence.

[The Lawspeaker]

According to my philosophy teacher (for as far as ROC can be considered education - my fellow Dutchmen would understand my remark) utilitarianism is "whatever makes most people happy" . I'd say that it is surely lacking in even the most basic aspects of common sense: what happiness is worth more ? A glass of beer or a classical concert ?

[Theron]

Any "Most Good for Most people" principle means that the strong must make sacrifices to make the weak happy.

[Kalimtari]

No one into philosophy huh?

I pretend to be smart, but I iz not, so, no help from me, sowwie

[Minesweeper]

Utilitarianism sounds nice on first touch, maximal utility as highest value, we would all live a nice and relaxing life. But when one thinks about it, the consequences of its implementation could lead to bizarre situations that are everything but just. According to utilitarianism, if all of you enjoy me suffering it is alright if I suffer. If you share it via internet so that millions could see it and enjoy it too, it is quite alright. Ancient equivalent would be gladiator fights.

[alb0zfinest]

Utilitarianism sounds nice on first touch, maximal utility as highest value, we would all live a nice and relaxing life. But when one thinks about it, the consequences of its implementation could lead to bizarre situations that are everything but just. According to utilitarianism, all of you enjoy me suffering it is alright if I suffer. If you share it via internet so that millions could see it and enjoy it too, it is quite alright. Ancient equivalent would be gladiator fights.

I see nothing wrong with this

It could even go up by a few notches if you were to introduce slavery to this equation. Slavery can be acceptable as long as it is maximizing utility. Now that is obviously wrong, but Utilitarianism is partly right when it comes to deciding whether a decision was morally just or unjust for the most part. A utilitarian says that a decision is morally just as long as it maximizes utility, where as a Kantian lets take for instance says that intent is what makes a decision morally good or morally bad. So if you run over 11 people its fine as long as you had good intentions while you were doing that.