What is Happiness - Essay Example

Thus the utilitarian position argues very strongly in favor of the concept of the maximum happiness. This principle of happiness is considered correct irrespective of the fact that the act that whether the action is performed out of a pure intention and motive of helping someone or whether the act is performed for personal interest. That is the utilitarianism considers an act which brings about the maximum happiness even if the person who performed this act did not do it with the intention of doing something good (Mill 1867, McMahon 2010).

The utilitarian concept explains that the key to leading a moral life is the consideration of the benefit of the maximum people. This concept explains that proper education and learning can teach a person that which acts will bring about happiness. This is because it is through experience and learning that a person knows how this world has evolved and what acts are moral and will be good for the maximum number of people. The arguments that are used to support this position are convincing but there are reasons which provide an insight into the flaws that have been overlooked by the utilitarian position.

During the reign of Hitler in Germany, experimental work was conducted on the Jewish slaves. The purpose of these experiments was to learn about the pathological conditions that affected humans so that the life quality and expectancy of the human beings could be improved. These experiments provided the ground for many discoveries and many things were learned from them but many detainees on whom these experiments were performed lost their lives in the process. The purpose of these experiments was to serve humanity and they did work towards bringing about the benefit of the maximum number of people by improving their lives as well as the lives of the future generations.

But this benefit was obtained at the stake of