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Outline and Evaluate what you consider the most powerful objection to Utilitarianism as a moral theory.
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Outline and Evaluate what you consider the most powerful objection to Utilitarianism as a moral theory. As far as consequentialist theories go, utilitarianism is probably the most well known, yet I find it quite unconvincing myself. The theory itself requires people acting for the 'greatest happiness of the greatest number' and involves calculating the overall effect of an act on happiness/unhappiness of people. The act that produces the most overall happiness should obviously, be pursued. The essence of utilitarianism is summarised in the principle of utility-'Acts are right in proportion as they tend to promote pleasure or happiness.' Already we question the theory as it seems quite ambiguous and unclear as to whether we should work towards the greatest happiness overall or the happiness for greatest number of people. 18th century philanthropist John Stuart Mill considers happiness to be the only intrinsically good and therefore suffering to be the only...
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