- What is traditional utilitarianism, how do you determine what the moral thing to do on any particular occasion might be? Include mention of the four (4) considerations to determine what the moral thing to do on any particular occasion might be.
- Why is utilitarianism attractive to many? Discuss three (3) reasons.
- What is the ecological ethic?
- How does utilitarianism support the ecological ethic?
C06.V.9.1 Business Ethics
Assignment 08,
Utilitarianism and Ecological Ethics
Utilitarianism is the system or activity which reduce the negative action and maximizes utility. The founder of traditional utilitarianism are Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832) and John Stuart Mill (1806-1873). They found a base which is publicly, legally and socially accepted to make a value judgments.They compare advantageous and negative result in the basis of moral and social decision making and look for a various strategies and actions to come in a sensible conclusion. The theory of utilitarianism has provide a lot of benefits to the organization by producing greatest amount of good for the greatest number. The basic principle of utilitarianism, according to Mill is, "Actions are right to the degree that they tend to promote the greatest good for the greatest number" and according to Bentham is "An action is right from an ethical point of view, if and only if, the sum total of utilities produced by that act is greater than the sum total of utilities produced by any other act the agent could have performed in its place." Both has a similar point of view. It can be conclude by measuring and adding together the number of benefits produced by an action and measuring and subtracting from those benefits by the number of negative the action will produce.
On a particular occasion to determine what the moral thing to do, according to utilitarianism, I must do four things. First, I must determine what alternative actions are available. For example, a car company whose some of the designs has a bad effect on a individual and in a society or an environment, must look for another possible advantageous outcomes by redesigning the car or leave as it was. Secondly, I must estimate the direct and indirect costs and benefits the action would produce for all involved in the foreseeable future. Such as, the affected peoples would have to face the situation of estimated amount of the cost and profit, if the design of car were modified and face the same situation if it were not modified. Similarly the third one is I must subtract the costs from the benefits to determine the net utility of each action. Like, by calculating the net social costs of a car company would be more if it will redesign or modify than the net social costs of unchanged design. At last the fourth is I must choose the alternative that produces the greatest sum total of utility. e.g. it would be more benefit to the car company if they leave to modify the design and force to the lowest price.
Utilitarianism is attractive to many because it provides the similar sight when we discuss about the governmental actions and pubic goods. Many people admit it, because of its greatest measurable utility for people. It is the policy of the proper government and in the slogan of famous philosopher Bentham, those that will produce "the greatest good for the greatest number." It also fit in with the intuitive criteria which people use when discussing moral conduct. Utilitarianism gives a clear and logical reason about our morally wrong or unfulfillable activities like lying, to be immoral. It is so because of the costly effects lying has on people. On the other hand, traditional utilitarian would refuse to admit that an action of the certain is always right or always wrong. In any circumstances each actions would have to be weighed particularly in an opposite way. There is a high influence of theory of utilitarianism in economics. A long line of economists, beginning in the nineteenth century, stated that economic behavior could be explained by assuming that people always attempt to increase their utility and that utilities of product can be measured by the prices people are willing to pay for them.
The right to live of all nonhuman beings in an environment should be given a priority by a human beings is known as ecological ethic. Human being should not kill other animals or plants for their own sake, which can create a major problem in future. They should be protected and they deserve this. Mostly, anything people do in their life is only for their own benefit. They do not care about others. Their activities will have a negative effect on them and in an environment soon or later. It is true that the ecosystem of an environment is recycled, one depends on another to survive. But too much dependent on others more than needed creates destruction. The nature has provided everything equally to all survivors of the planet, but it is the human being whose wants, desires and basic needs never ends. They always wants more and more and they are ready to do anything to fulfill what they want. That’s why they destroy nature and the home of other living beings directly or somewhere indirectly. It is opposite of nature. In a view of ecological ethic human beings are not allowed to harm other living beings on environment for their personal benefit.
The value of utilitarianism plays a significant role in an environment. Utilitarian ethics supports strong environmental policies. Mainly, utilitarianism focus on the consequences of an action to determine whether it is right or wrong. It believes in greatest pleasure in greatest number. All the necessary things to maximize the utility are obtain from the environment. A value of ethics of an organization is fully depend on the surrounded environment. In most of the places, environment is polluted by an organization for their personal benefits. Mostly, an organization do any kind of activities to maximize their product which is deadly to the environment in one side and in other side it is profitable to the environment. As I have mentioned above, an ecological ethic supports equally to the all living beings. The proper use of local resources is profitable to both; to the environment and organization. The process of maximization of the product from an organization should not effect to any other non human beings who are living on the same area. Every one has the right to live. The theory of utilitarianism expand the product with the help of the environment without disturbing human and non human beings.
References
Manuel G. Velasquez (2012). Business Ethics. Concept and Cases (7th Ed.). Boston: Pearson.
Patrick Curry (2011). Ecological Ethics (2nd Ed.). Cambridge: Polity.
John Stuart Mill (2012). Utilitarianism. North Charleston: Create Space.
