Outline the important features of utilitarianism

Collections of Essays 1. Overall View Utilitarianism is a philosophical view or theory about how we should evaluate a wide range of things that involve choices that people face. Among the things that can be evaluated are actions, laws, policies, character traits, and moral codes. Utilitarianism is a form of consequentialism because it rests on the idea that it is the consequences or results of actions, laws, policies, etc.

Our first task is therefore to provide a clear definition of equality in the face of widespread misconceptions about its meaning as a political idea. Thus, to say e. Two non-identical objects are never completely equal; they are different at least in their spatiotemporal location.

Here usage might vary. In the case of descriptive use of equality, the common standard is itself descriptive, e. A prescriptive use of equality is present when a prescriptive standard is applied, i.

The standards grounding prescriptive assertions of equality contain at least two components. On the one hand, there is a descriptive component, since the assertions need to contain descriptive criteria, in order to identify those people to which the rule or norm applies.

The question of this identification — who belongs to which category? On the other hand, the comparative standards contain something normative — a moral or legal rule, in the example, the U.

Such a rule constitutes the prescriptive component Westenchap. Sociological and economic analyses of in- equality mainly pose the questions of how inequalities can be determined and measured and what their causes and effects are. In contrast, social and political philosophy is in general concerned mainly with the following questions: Such is the case in this article as well.

Equality essentially consists of a tripartite relation between two or several objects or persons and one or several qualities. Two objects a and b are equal in a certain respect if, in that respect, they fall under the same general terminus.

Every comparison presumes a tertium comparationis, a concrete attribute defining the respect in which the equality applies — equality thus referring to a common sharing of this comparison-determining attribute.

There is another source of diversity as well: As Temkinargues, various different standards might be used to measure inequality, with the respect in which people are compared remaining constant. The difference between a general concept and different specific conceptions Rawlsp.

Depending on which procedural principle one adopts, contrary answers are forthcoming. Both equality and inequality are complex and multifaceted concepts Temkinchap. In any real historical context, it is clear that no single notion of equality can sweep the field.

But they believe that there is also a common underlying strain of important moral concerns implicit in it Williams Above all it serves to remind us of our common humanity, despite various differences cf.

In this sense, egalitarians tend to think of egalitarianism as a single coherent normative doctrine — but one in any case embracing a variety of principles. Following the introduction of different principles and theories of equality, I will return in the last section of this article to the question how best to define egalitarianism and the value of equality.

Principles of Equality and Justice Equality in its prescriptive usage has, of course, a close connection with morality and justice in general and distributive justice in particular.

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From antiquity onward, equality has been considered a constitutive feature of justice. On the history of the concept, cf.Bentham describes the principle of utility as being "The greatest good for the greatest number," believing this would create happiness, an intrinsic key to life.

Therefore Bentham views utilitarianism in terms of individuals and how certain actions affect that individual/5(9). J. L.

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Mackie - Ethics~ Inventing Right and Wrong (, ) - Free ebook download as PDF File .pdf), Text File .txt) or read book online for free. John Rawls (—) John Rawls was arguably the most important political philosopher of the twentieth century. He wrote a series of highly influential articles in the s and ’60s that helped refocus Anglo-American moral and political philosophy on substantive problems about what we ought to do.

A) Outline the main features of Utilitarianism This essay shall outline the main features of utilitarianism. Firstly it shall discuss the founders of utilitarianism and analyse their theories and beliefs regarding utilitarianism. The Pyramid of Corporate Social Responsibility: Toward the Moral Management of Organizational Stakeholders Archie B.

Carroll F or the better part of 30 years now, corpo- rate executives have struggled with the issue of the firm's responsibility to its soci- . Explore the ethical theory of utilitarianism, founded by Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill.

Then test your understanding of how the principles of.