|It is straightforward and based on the |Utilitarianism doesn’t protect the |It relates to actions which can be |
|single principle of minimising pain and |minority. There’s nothing in |observed in the real world. E.g. giving |
|maximising pleasure and happiness. A |utilitarianism that prevents the total |to charity promotes happiness for poor |
|system which aims to create a happier |sacrifice of one pleasure for the benefit|people and is seen to be good, whereas an|
|life for individuals and groups is |of the whole. The Nazi policy of |act of cruelty is condemned as bad. |
|attractive. |persecution and extermination of Jews | |
| |could be considered good if the greater | |
| |population thought it pleasurable. | |
|What about pain that’s good for us? |Utilitarianism ignores the importance of duty. An act may be right or wrong for |
|Physical pain has a purpose – it is a |reasons other than the amount of good or evil it produces. E.g. the case of the |
|reminder that we have an injury and need |dying millionaire. A millionaire asks his friend to promise to give all his assets |
|to address it. |to his local football club upon his death. The millionaire dies and his friend sets|
| |about fulfilling his last wishes, but he sees an advert to save 1 million people who|
| |are dying from starvation. Utilitarianism would dictate that the friend should |
| |ignore the millionaire’s dying wishes. However, some promises are bad and should not|
| |be kept....