Question

reflect on the strengths and weaknesses you have, in regards to utilitarianism.

Answer 1

Strengths :

1. Act Utilitarianism is pragmatic and focuses on the consequences of an action.
2. For many people ‘happiness’ is an important part of decision making as it is their main aim in life.
3. This theory treats everyone equally – regardless of emotional or social attachments.
4. Simple to follow, just ‘Greatest happiness for the greatest number’.
5. Bentham provided humans with a way to measure happiness through the hedonic calculus.

Weaknesses :

1. Utilitarianism seeks to predict the consequences of an action, which is impossible.
2. Some claim Bentham committed the ‘naturalistic fallacy’ of deriving an ought from an is.
3. Utilitarianism fails to identify that we have certain duties or obligations to others.
4. Happiness is subjective. Whereas someone may find happiness in cake, another may find it in murder.
5. Using the hedonic calculus to calculate the greatest happiness for the greatest number is impractical.