How should I structure a 25 marker concerning Utilitarianism?

General basis for question that could be asked: Is a right act one that maximises happiness for the greatest number?  Into: This essay shall evaluate whether Utilitarianism provides the correct account of moral acts, understanding the right action to be the one that maximises happiness. Focusing on Act and Rule utilitarianism, this essay shall lead to the conclusion that what counts as a right act cannot be understood merely in terms of the happiness it produces.  P1: Outline Utilitarianism Bentham Principle of utility ‘Felicific calculus’ P2: Philosophy of the swine- inadequate Mill- higher and lower pleasures  P3: Moore- fallacy of equivocation No action ruled out as immoral AU response- people find out Issues with response- not what is wrong, rights Evaluation: In this way, it could be argued that Act Utilitarianism cannot provide account of what is morally right or wrong, as it does not recognise the inherent wrong nature of certain acts, regardless of the consequences. And so to maximise happiness in this way might not always provide the best solution.  P4- Rule Utilitarianism P5- Obj- rule based action-exceptions Weak RU No security in rules P5- David Lyon Neither recognise the importance of justice, rights and deserts- punishing innocent Evaluation: From this train of argument it can be seen that even a strong Rule Utilitarian cannot offer a complete condemnation of acts we instinctively view as immoral; by focusing on the principle of utility and maximising happiness, Utilitarianism misses the fact that some acts, such as murder, are inherently wrong. There are other things we value more than just overall happiness, including retaining our humanity and ethical code.  Conclusion: In this way, Utilitarianism’s claim that the right act is the act that maximises happiness does not seem accurate. There are other issues, such as the act itself and the motivations of the agent, which also need to be taken into account to judge whether an action is moral. Utilitarian’s detached approach, attempting only to maximise happiness seems to miss a fundamental part of the morality of an action; whether the act itself and not just the consequences are good.    

Answered by Eleanor B. Philosophy tutor

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