Five Thought Experiments That Challenge Utilitarianism
Five Thought Experiments That Challenge Utilitarianism Utilitarianism is the ethical theory that an action is right if it results in the greatest amount of good for the greatest number of people. It is a consequentialist approach to ethics, focusing on the outcomes of actions rather than on rules, duties, or intrinsic values. The theory emphasizes impartiality, requiring that the happiness and well-being of all individuals be considered equally in moral decision-making. While utilitarianism provides a straightforward framework for evaluating ethical dilemmas, it also faces criticism for potentially justifying actions that conflict with moral intuitions when they lead to a higher aggregate utility. Below are five thought experiments that have been used by philosophers to challenge utilitarianism. 1. The Organ Transplant Case Scenario : Imagine you are a doctor in a hospital with five patients who are all in desperate need of organ transplants. Each patient requires a different organ—a h...