Essay on Utilitarism - 2352 Words

Question 1: Williams thinks that the doctrine of negative responsibility, which follows from the principle of utility, undermines personal integrity. Do you agree that being held responsible for the consequences of not acting, of failing to prevent something, will (always or sometimes) erode the idea of personal integrity? Is there any way to be a utilitarian and still respect the integrity of individuals? Integrity is the honesty and truthfulness or accuracy of one’s actions. Integrity regards internal consistency as a virtue. One may judge that others â€Å"have integrity† to the extent that they act according to the values, beliefs and principles they clam to hold. As Williams explains, the principal of utility undermines personal†¦show more content†¦So, the principals of utilitarianism are not conflicting with personal integrity. With that being said, I believe that a person of integrity may differ about what is right but a moral person cannot have integrity. The utilitarian approach alienates individuals from their own commitments and moral identity. Deliberating and acting for reasons directed at the right or good thing to do depend upon a moral theory in which we have personal integrity. To be moved by the needs of others, we need to possess substantial commitments that help individuals see themselves as part of the group (Sheehy 2008). Not to dismiss wha t role principles like the principles of utility have in our decisions, but our view of the world is made of the commitments forming us. This idea is not limited to an individual, but central to the nature of us and woven into our moral thinking. Ashford, Elizabeth, 2000. ‘Utilitarianism, Integrity and Partiality,’Journal of Philosophy, 97: 421–439. Sheehy, Paul. Doing the Right Thing (Part II): Challenges to Utilitarianism. The Richmond Journal of Philosophy. Richmond Journal, Mar. 2008. Williams, Bernard, 1973. ‘Integrity,’ in J.J.C. Smart and Bernard Williams, Utilitarianism: For and Against New York: Cambridge, 108–117. Question 2: Morality tells us what we ought to do, and imposes upon us duties which it would be wrong not to fulfill. Yet Kant claims, in Chapter Two of the Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals, that autonomy—the abilityShow MoreRelatedA Naturalistic Moral Theory Mill s Utilitarism Essay1301 Words   |  6 PagesIn this paper, I shall argue that while a naturalistic moral theory Mill’s Utilitarism is a flexible and sensitive to circumstances (act and rule) as long as overall happiness is the end goal and promotes social harmony, that his position is a lacks of autonomy/integrity of the moral agent, is a negative responsibility because utilitarianism is an excessively demanding theory, act utilitarianism may require us to commit morally reprehensible acts, there is sometimes conflict of rules for the ruleRead MoreKants Moral Theory and Utilitarism Comparison Essay1166 Words   |  5 PagesKant’s moral theory and utilitarianism are two very different moral t heories. Kant’s moral theory works off of the categorical imperative. Utilitarianism works off of the greatest happiness principle. 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