What is a drawback of the utilitarian approach to business ethics?
The standardized definition of Utilitarianism is that actions are defined as being “right” or “correct” based on the ability it has to promote happiness. Something is then considered “wrong” if it creates the opposite reaction. This structure means that the ends often justify the means when seeking to create a specific result. That means if an action results in bringing happiness more than any other available alternative, then that is the acceptable choice to make. Show
There are three specific premises for Utilitarianism which must go under review when determining the correctness of any action taken.
Based on these premises, Utilitarianism suggests that happiness is always good for the individual. If you have an opportunity to increase this emotion, then you should do so because it is a core human desire. That means when each member of a group or organization is happy, then so will the entirety of that team. The suggestion is simple: by focusing on happiness first, we will all be collectively better as a society because our focus is on how to improve ourselves. This theory does run into some practical concerns upon implementation, which is why a look at its advantages and disadvantages is so important. List of the Advantages of Utilitarianism1. It is a universal concept that all of us can understand. 2. You don’t need to practice a religion to benefit from this process. 3. Utilitarianism follows democratic principles. After creating a platform which suggested that the Republicans would repeal and replace the healthcare systems put into place by the previous administration, Senator John McCain stopped his party’s top legislative priority with a “no” vote. His action created the distinction between right and wrong through the principles of Utilitarianism. 4. It uses an objective process to decide what is right or wrong. Once we make this decision through the data we collect about ourselves, it becomes possible to join with others who come to similar conclusions. Although this process would likely change the way we think about building communities around the world, it could also help to prevent the potential free-for-all of subjectivity that would likely happen if everyone was suddenly permitted to do their own thing. 5. This process is one that is very easy to use. We know this advantage is possible because the principles of Utilitarianism always direct individuals toward the greatest good possible. If you cannot achieve success without bring harm to others, is that really the best outcome? There will always be extreme examples where this process does not work adequately, but it does create a lot of opportunity when applied to the finer details of life’s experiences. 6. Utilitarianism works with our natural intuition. 7. It bases everything on the concept of happiness. List of the Disadvantages of Utilitarianism1. Society does not solely focus on happiness when making choices. When we look at Utilitarianism, all of these other “goods” take a secondary value to happiness. You might love your spouse, but if they make you unhappy one day for any reason, then the moral outcome is to correct that situation by the fastest, easiest means possible. That could mean divorce, separation, or worse instead of taking the time to hammer out your issues. Over 70% of people who describe their marriage as being unhappy will have a different perspective in five years or less. 2. The ends never really justify the means when considering happiness. Under the teachings of Utilitarianism, the just outcome would be to kill healthy people to distribute their organs to those who are waiting on the transplant list. That’s because the good of the many (as defined by happiness) always outweighs the good of the few. 3. Outcomes are unpredictable when dealing with the future. We all know that the person we were 10 years ago is very different than the individual you are today. George (we changed his name) is a prime example of this. In 2009, he was working full-time as a vocational supervisor for people with development disabilities. He owned a house with his wife, played basketball at church once per week, and sang in a band with a regular weekend gig. Now George lives in a different community, has four kids, works full-time from home, and is a martial arts coach. Trying to base ethical choices on what his future became based on his life 10 years ago would have been impossible. The same is true for the next decade as well. 4. Happiness is something that is subjective. Imagine that you are playing a video game like Overwatch right now. When you win your match, then you feel happy. If you lose, then you might feel frustrated. Utilitarianism says that the moment you stop experiencing happiness is the time when you must shift gears. Does it make sense to abandon everything you do the instant that happiness is no longer maximized? Even being intimate with your significant other can have varying levels of satisfaction. Knowing what will make you happy at any given moment is impossible to predict. That means Utilitarianism provides immeasurable outcomes. 5. It forces you to rely on everyone else following the same moral code. 74% of men say that they would cheat on their significant other if they knew for certain that they could get away with the activity. 68% of women say that they would willingly have an affair as well. When there is the absence of a deterrent for any activity, then people are more likely to make the choice to pursue it. That is why Utilitarianism might bring happiness to some, but it causes a lot of harm in its wake. 6. Utilitarianism doesn’t focus on the act itself to form judgments. When they were asked if they had ever held someone down to coerce them into having sex, the answers were different. This outcome is just a small taste of what life under Utilitarianism would be like. If the actions of a person result in a maximum amount of happiness, then it doesn’t matter if other people think it is wrong. It is still a moral choice to pursue. 7. You cannot measure happiness in tangible ways. When we try to measure happiness, there isn’t a definitive measurement that can be used because your emotional reactions are different in every situation. Sonja Lyubomirsky and Heidi Lepper developed an assessment in 1999 that can help some people make an overall judgment about how happy they are in the present moment, but even this tool is based upon the creator’s criteria for it. That is why Utilitarianism struggles to succeed. It may offer a valid proposition, but there is no way to measure it accurately using current systems. 8. It would allow the majority of society to always dictate outcomes. Utilitarianism would allow the majority to have tyranny over all aspects of society. If most people felt like pedophilia was acceptable and normal, then it would justify any laws or regulations that would permit that behavior – even though there is a clear moral wrongness about such a choice. Conclusion of the Utilitarianism Advantages and DisadvantagesUtilitarianism will ultimately fail because it confuses what is popular in the present for what is morally right. What we have learned throughout history is that there are some choices that are always morally wrong, no matter how many ways you try to spin the idea. Can you imagine a world where the Holocaust would be considered a morally correct decision? Or living in a nation that not only celebrated the murdering spree of Ted Bundy, but encouraged others to participate in such activities as they saw fit? The advantages and disadvantages of Utilitarianism prove that happiness cannot be the only part of the foundation upon which we make decisions. There are times in life when the correct decision is the one which only you are willing to make. Humanity would lose its integrity if it decided to follow this way of life, even if there are some notable benefits to consider. It is clear that any strengths are clearly outweighed by the weaknesses of this theory. Author Bio What is the drawback of act utilitarian approach?The most common argument against act utilitarianism is that it gives the wrong answers to moral questions. Critics say that it permits various actions that everyone knows are morally wrong.
What are the weaknesses of utilitarian theory in ethics?While Utilitarians will count this as a strength of their theory, it can also be considered a weakness of the theory. In considering everyone equally, Utilitarianism devalues the importance of personal relationships. In some cases, following Utilitarianism will force us to disregard those who are close to us.
What is the utilitarian approach to business ethics?The Utilitarian Approach assesses an action in terms of its consequences or outcomes; i.e., the net benefits and costs to all stakeholders on an individual level. It strives to achieve the greatest good for the greatest number while creating the least amount of harm or preventing the greatest amount of suffering.
What is the biggest weakness of utilitarianism?Utilitarianism's primary weakness has to do with justice. A standard objection to utilitarianism is that it could require us to violate the standards of justice.
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