Is Utilitarianism an attractive theory of political morality?

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Utilitarian Theory

Introduction

The most significant theorists behind utilitarian theory are Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill . The theory is based on the idea that the morality of an act is based exclusively on its utility . Utilitarian theory holds that the right action is the one that brings happiness to the majority . In relation to all other options , the one that results in maximum possible happiness is the right one . It is also the kind of action that assures the wellbeing of

the humanity in what is referred to as negative utilitarian (Shaw 1999 . Negative utilitarian holds that the morality of an action depends with the ability of the action to alleviate human suffering . Utilitarian theory defines ethics according to the resulting happiness and not the innate moral importance of the act itself . The theory has no provisions for the significance of the action itself , as long as the results are right This is to say that as long as an act results to maximum happiness , the nature of the act itself does not matter . The morality of an action is based on the results or the outcome . This makes the theory a form of consequentialism . The theory is also referred to as `the greatest happiness principle (Rosen 2003 . The theory can be defined as a life stance with happiness as the final significance . The theory is a controversial one , when applied to modern day social life . It is a theory that...