Utilitarianism Essay, Research Paper

Utilitarianism is the ethical doctrine which essentially states that which is good is

that which brings about the most happiness to the most people. John Stuart Mill believed

that the decisions we make should always benefit the most people as much as possible

regardless of the consequences to the minority or even yourself. He would say all that

matters in the decision of right versus wrong is the amount of happiness produced by the

consequences. In the decisions we make Mill would say that we need to weigh the

outcomes and make our decision based on that outcome that benefits the majority. For

Mill, pleasure is the only desirable consequence of our decisions or actions.

The Judeo-Christian ethic embraced by Augustine places questions of right and

wrong under the authority of a divine creator – God. The Judeo-Christian ethic can be

summed up in one word – Love. In Matthew 22:40 Jesus says: “Love the Lord your God

with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and

greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love you neighbor as yourself.”

When Augustine said, “Love God and do what you will”, I believe he is asserting the fact

that when a person loves God truly he or she is in God’s will. John 14:15 says, “If you

love me, you will obey what I command.” If a person obeys God which is loving God

and loving his creation then a person is in his will. The decisions made by a person in

God’s will are thus ethical decision in view of the fact that God is the ultimate moral

authority. To help his creation in determining right from wrong he has provided the

Bible. Although not every ethical question is covered in the Bible he has also given us

his Spirit for guidance.

Utilitarianism like the Judeo-Christian ethic is viewing others in a high regard.

Utilitarian desire the greatest happiness as an end and the Judeo-Christian perspective

seeks love and obedience to God. These two ethical systems seem to be similar in this

aspect of caring what happens to all people. Both Utilitarianism and the Judeo-Christian

ethic take the focus off the individual and place it on others.

The Utilitarian is aiming to bring about the greatest amount of happiness to the

greatest amount of people. The Judeo-Christian ethic is God-centered with the

commandment to truly love Him. This love places a person in his divine will. People

operating in this system are also called to love others as themselves. Being in God’s

divine will is the end by which love is the means. A person’s commitment is to God and

his divine will. On the other hand, in Utilitarianism a person’s commitment is to

pleasure.

Another point of variance lies in the meaning of love and happiness. For Mills,

happiness is the desired end regardless of the means. Thus there seems to be an absence

of standards by which the means to obtain happiness are judged. If ten people would

derive happiness by beating and robbing a man whose life affects no one, Utilitarianism

seems to deem this ethical. On the other hand, the Judeo-Christian perspective clearly

sets standards on actions. The commandment to love your neighbor as yourself dispels

such actions of beating and robbing others.

Love as a commandment doesn’t always necessarily mean happiness for the

greatest number of people. In the Judeo-Christian ethic discipline is often a part of

loving someone. In Mill’s ethics discipline is what may happen to the minority to

provide happiness for the majority. In the Judeo-Christian ethic discipline may involve

the majority such as in the case of God’s disciplinary actions on Israel.

In the process of forming a decision the Utilitarian must consciously weigh

outcomes for the greatest happiness. This system places ultimate morality on the

individual making the decision. This is in stark contrast to the moral authority found in

the Judeo-Christian ethics of God.