Understanding Utilitarianism and Its Core Ethical Dilemmas
Utilitarianism, a consequentialist ethical theory developed by philosophers like Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill, posits that the right action is the one that maximizes overall happiness or utility. However, it faces dilemmas such as the tension between individual rights and collective good, where sacrificing one person's well-being for the majority's pleasure raises moral concerns. This analysis reveals how utilitarianism struggles to balance impartiality with intuitive notions of justice.
Key Principles and Sources of Dilemmas
The principle of utility demands actions be judged by their outcomes, not intentions, leading to dilemmas like the 'trolley problem,' where diverting a train to kill one instead of five seems rational but violates deontological ethics. Other issues include the difficulty in measuring utility accurately and the potential justification of immoral acts, such as lying or theft, if they produce net happiness, challenging the theory's reliability in complex moral scenarios.
Practical Example: The Trolley Problem in Utilitarian Terms
Consider the classic trolley dilemma: a runaway trolley heads toward five workers, but you can switch it to a track with one worker. A utilitarian would pull the switch to save five lives, maximizing utility, yet this forces active harm on an innocent, highlighting the dilemma of 'doing' versus 'allowing' harm. Real-world applications, like wartime decisions to bomb a target despite civilian casualties, mirror this, forcing leaders to weigh aggregate benefits against personal tragedies.
Importance and Broader Applications in Philosophy
Analyzing these dilemmas is crucial for ethical decision-making in fields like public policy, medicine, and AI ethics, where utilitarian calculations influence resource allocation, such as vaccine distribution during pandemics. While it promotes societal welfare, addressing its flaws—through refinements like rule utilitarianism—helps integrate it with rights-based theories, fostering a more nuanced moral framework that respects both utility and human dignity.