Summary:
Everyone wants to pursue happiness and nothing else. Mill, which Morales explains, states that this is the way to live; to do everything according to your own pleasure. Basically, everyone should live virtuously and good consequences will come.
."..The creed which accepts as the foundation of morals utility or the greatest happiness principle holds that actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness; wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness"
-John Stuart Mill
Imagine a world where people do things according to what gives them the most pleasure. People would never share half of their sandwich. The word volunteer would never be utilized. Students would never go to class; teachers would never teach. Nobody would be doing anything but the things that pleasure them; utility would be pursued by everyone. Act utilitarianism states that you must do what makes everyone happy. If the first choice is more pleasurable than the second, according to utilitarianism, the correct choice is the first one.
For example, imagine there is a crime committed and the police were not able to figure out who did it. If the criminal was not found and sentenced to jail, the whole city would riot and everyone would be displeased. According to act utilitarianism, the authorities should frame someone who is innocent. That way the people would think that the criminal is caught. In this case, everyone would be happy except one poor fellow that was unjustly set up.
Now imagine the same scenario, but people had the choice whether to frame the innocent man or leave him alone. Everyone, obviously wanting to be just in front of everyone will say to leave the innocent man alone. Therefore the innocent man is free and the real criminal is still not apprehended. Rule utilitarianism gives aximum utility to the innocent guy. He would have been framed for a crime he did not commit, but everything is working out for his own best interest.
Suppose then, that someone told everyone that they will not frame someone but then turn around and frame someone any way. That is how rule utilitarianism in turn comes back to act utilitarianism. This act of finding out what to do depending on the best interest of others is just a big cycle. That is why rule utilitarianism weakens the means of act utilitarianism.
Ethically, framing the guy of the crime is not right. Framing him will cause an innocent man to go to jail. How is that right in anyone's book? But utilitarianism says to go and do it because a riot is no good for anyone. If one guy's life is ruined and thousands of others' lives are fine, utility is met. For this reason, utilitarianism is unethical.
Mariah H. Morales' comments on the axiological way of life and tells Mill's views of utility. Mariah tells us the things Mill wrote about and strengthens the utilitarian aspect of life and nature. The "corrupting influence of power" is the decision of framing the innocent man. Morales strengthens Mill's statement by proving that Mill wanted the well being of humans as their main goal. He wanted us to live a virtuous life with principles. He believed the principle of utility was the main meaning of life and that was the goal we humans should have.
According to primitive utilitarianism, selfish people would best fit the character-traits to contribute to utility. With greedy and egotistical character traits, you will do everything according to your own pleasure. Therefore, you will be contributing to utility. Nobody selfless or altruistic would make positive contributions to utility. They would ultimately help others which in turn are not in their greatest desire.
Mariah H. Morales says utility is met by doing virtuous acts and doing what is right not always what is pleasurable. This would mean the character-traits would include being selfless and sacrificing toward others. Sharing would be the best thing to do.
Everyone wants to pursue happiness and nothing else. Mill, which Morales explains, states that this is the way to live; to do everything according to your own pleasure. Basically, everyone should live virtuously and good consequences will come.
This is the complete article, containing 650 words
(approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page).
