Consequentialist Moral Theory

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In this essay I will explore consequentialist moral theory – utilitarianism, exploring two historical philosophical founders Jeremy Bentham and John Mill, their influence on utilitarianism. Examining utilitarianism in contemporary society.

The influential Utilitarian scholars of consequentialism are the following, ancestors to the Pre- Classical Approach, Hutcheson (1694- 1746), Hume (1711-1776) Smith (1723-1790, Classical approach, Bentham (1748-1832), Mill (1806- 1873), Sidgwick (1838 – 1900), Ideal Utilitarianism, Moore (1973-1958), Negative Utilitarianism, Popper (1902 -1994), Preference utilitarianism, Brandt (1910 – 1997), Hare (1919 – 2002) and Singer, (1946- current) influencing our current society. (Pojman, 2006).

According to Driver …show more content…
(Mill, 2011).

Zaldivar (2012) explains Bentham’s theory of utilitarianism as our actions or consequences should be for maximising whatever gives the most pleasure or happiness or pain. pleasure is a positive experience and pain a negative one. Zaldivar then explains that an action that has a positive outcome, is a moral utility if enhances happiness and immoral if diminishes pleasure. Morality depends on pleasure and pain, good or bad.

Utilitarianism has two main principals Teleological also referred to as hedonism (utility principal) and consequentialist principle, the right or wrongness of the act. Bentham adopted a core view of Teleological, also referred to as hedonism, this view point states the only thing that is good is pleasure or happiness, Bentham stated” Nature has a placed mankind under governance of two sovereign master’s pains and pleasure. It is for the alone point out what we out to do” (Bentham, cited in Boss, 1998, p …show more content…
Singer also improved earlier forms of utilitarianism stating people often choose things that does not make them happy. Singer in his study on voluntary Euthanasia and argues withdrawing medical treatment/ involuntary, could be argued, the utilitarian application to this argument would be “utilitarianism must count a desire to go on living as a reason against killing, so must it count a desire to die as a reason for killing” (singer 1993, p9). The act of euthanizing people who are in incredible pain with a life ending illness, would make this actions morally permitted using Mill’s theory as it would produce as much happiness for the person with the death reducing their pain.

Mayled and Williams (2011) examines utilitarianism strengths and weakness and the application in our daily lives. Strengths perceived are that utilitarianism is easy to use, considering positive and negatives and the consequences of our actions, anyone can use this principle of utility. Happiness, this is a good thing to focus on in life, if we only focused on the bad in everyday life we would become a miserable
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