Please discuss the following question with philosophy ethics and knowledge - Essay Example

Utilitarianism and People’s Happiness Utilitarianism, in accordance with contemporary moral issues, appears to be directly inclined to people’s happiness. For instance, if everyone’s needs were broadly looked at morally, and most people were reasonably happy, then utilitarianism would demand very little from individual societal role players. This reply concerning moral standards of utilitarianism is largely convincing. Firstly, it is necessary to find the real meaning of utilitarianism. Utilitarianism is a theory in normative ethics.

Utilitarianism theory holds that moral action philosophically holds maximum utility. The concept of maximum utility notion of utilitarianism involves lack of suffering, economic well-being and pleasure. In justice and fairness, for instance, utilitarianism accounts that the rights of an individual are less important than the good of many people. Therefore, the utilitarian theory is considerate on people’s demands. The state of the world, on the other hand, is what places greater demands on different people.

Individual needs are what corrupt utilitarianism. The ill-will nature of individuals is what leads to suffering. If individual’s needs are highly prioritized, then happiness would be achieved, and utilitarianism would demand very little from the people. Peter Singer’s reply is quite convincing when it comes to the roles of utilitarianism in people’s lives. This is because utilitarianism does not distinguish what people do from what they allow to happen. An individual’s innate feelings, self-ago and view of others are what necessitates or results into suffering.

If utilitarianism is too demanding as critiques put it, then everyone is morally obligated to suffering which is not the case with utilitarian theory.