Question

2. what is utilitarianism? what does utilitarianism imply for cost benefit analysis of environmental issues? what can be some of the limits of using this approach? what is the practical advantage of a teleological ethics system such as utilitarianism over a deontological ethics system.

Answer 1

Answer 2- Utilitarian approach is a theory where a certain plan is implemented only after considering it’s future outcome and the result of such implementation that would affect certain number of people/things. This approach focusses on producing the greatest good the number of people and also producing the least harm to the rest of the people affected. Thus, this theory focuses on producing the maximum benefit.

• Cost benefit analysis is widely used when decisions are to be made as it helps to foresee the impact of such decision and helps to produce the greatest good. Utilitarian generally focusses on things to be quantitative rather than being qualitative and hence it helps to analyse the results better and take corrective action. Also it helps in better cost benefit analysis. Although there are many tools to help identify environmental issues and utilitarian tops the list. As there have been many policies by the government to save the environment for future generations and hence pnly such policy is implemented which is best for the humans taling every possibility into consideration like closing down of industrial units, grwoth of trees, reduction in polluting vehicles etc. Thus, being quantitative helps to solve the problems in a much better way.

There are some drawbacks as well that make people think that utilitarian approach isn’t that suitable sometimes. Some of the drawbacks are-

• This strategy or approach follows the concept of maximum benefit but it is not specifically mentioned that who gets to decide the maximum good. Different people have different preferences and thus according to tyem the maximum benefit is different. It gets difficult in deciding who is most appropriate.

• Utilitarian theory may provide favourism to some people and hence it seems to be unbiased sometimes.

• There are circumstances when some quick decision making is required and hence utilitarian theory is not suitable then as it is a long process of deciding which course of action to go for.

Unlike deontological approach which is considered normative in nature the utilitarian theory is considered to be more practical. In case of deontological theory the decisions are purely based on right and wrong and not on the besis of which they might affect the population.

One case of practical advantage of utilitarian theory over deontological theory is that it helps in the cases of economic polies and controlling environmental pollution as policies are framed first and then their consequences are estimated or pridicted and then their implimentation is done. But in such cases the approach of deontological cannot be followed as they require just think in the right way and not how it will affect the population at large.