What is an example that illustrate utilitarianism?
An example that illustrates utilitarianism is a scenario where a doctor has five patients who are each in need of a different organ transplant. Additionally, there is a healthy individual who is not in need of any organ transplant. In this case, a utilitarian would argue that it is morally justifiable for the doctor to sacrifice the healthy individual in order to save the lives of the five patients.
To understand why this is considered an example of utilitarianism, let's first explain what utilitarianism is. Utilitarianism is a moral theory that suggests the right course of action is the one that maximizes overall happiness or well-being for the greatest number of people. According to this theory, the moral value of an action is determined by its consequences and the resulting outcome.
In the given example, the utilitarian would argue that sacrificing one healthy individual to save five lives results in a net gain in overall happiness or well-being. The happiness and well-being of the five patients who would survive with the organ transplants outweighs the sacrifice of one person's life.
It is important to note that utilitarianism focuses on the aggregate happiness or well-being of the majority and does not prioritize individual rights or considerations. This example illustrates the idea that the overall benefit to society, as determined by the consequences of an action, takes precedence in utilitarian ethics.