Utilitarian Theory Human Rights - 1603 Words

Utilitarian Theory and Human Rights Utilitarianism can be defined as a moral theory by which the public welfare of a community is dependent on the â€Å"sum welfare of individuals, which is measured in units of pleasure and/or pain†, requiring governments to make decisions based on the â€Å"largest sum of pleasure† (Postema, 2006). However Bentham argued that every individual in the country tells for one, no individual for more than one, meaning that the weight of an individual’s happiness should always remain equivalent to that of another’s happiness regardless of personal status (Postema, 2006). Using this moral theory as a basis, Bentham asserted that the ultimate goal of government and all of morality was the advancement of public welfare†¦show more content†¦In particular, Article 7 states that â€Å"all are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law†, however the statistics provided by the NYCLU clearly suggests t hat blacks and Latinos are routinely stopped by the NYPD more than whites. Security rights as defined by Article 3 of the UHDR, are those which protect citizens from crimes against their person. Governments are expected to prohibit crimes such as murder, rape, and massacre. One could argue that laws that endorse the death penalty are a violation of security rights, especially given the fact that a fool-proof method of proving guilt exists. In addition, Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) restricts the use of the death penalty to lethal crimes or â€Å"crimes with extremely grave consequences† and the UN Human Rights Committee states â€Å"that the death penalty should be a quite exceptional measure† (Sangiorgio, 2011). However death sentences as recent as 2010 were imposed or carried out for offenses that did not meet the criteria specified in Article 6 of the ICCPR. In addition to limiting death sentences to offenses of the â€Å"most serious crimes†, the ICCPR also states that the death penalty can only be carried out â€Å"after a legal process which gives all possible safeguards to ensure a fair trial† (Sangiorgio, 2011), however all too often a â€Å"fair trial† is subject to many factors including the defendant’s socioeconomicShow MoreRelatedMoral Philosophy And Its Strength And Weaknesses1350 Words   |  6 PagesA system of m oral principles is a definition of ethics in a culture or a group. Principles or rules of right conduct or the distinction between right and wrong are one definition of moral. In this essay, I will search for my principles and how I ought to live my life. What do I believe in and how do I apply this in my duty as a human being, as a father, husband and a military officer. In other words, I will search for my moral philosophy. Furthermore, I will explain my moral philosophy and itsRead MoreThe Universal Declaration Of Human Rights Violation1498 Words   |  6 PagesDeclaration of Human Rights states that â€Å"No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment† (O’Byrne, 2003, pg. 400). This human rights violation is also discussed in Article 7 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (408). While torture is discussed in many covenants and declarations as morally and legally wrong, many still argue that torture can be justified in certain situations. There are many answers and theories that can be appliedRead MoreThe Ethical Argument For Veganism1685 Words   |  7 Pagesusing Utilitarianism defined by John Stuart Mill, and Deontological ethics according to Immanuel Kant. Through the use of these theories, I will justify the moral worth and legitimacy of the animal welfare d ebate that is often used to promote a cruelty-free and vegan lifestyle by analyzing questions of animal sentience, the worth of an animal’s happiness, and the right humanity supposedly has to the lives of other living creatures. Utilitarianism and Deontological ethics will provide two philosophicalRead MoreUtilitarianism V. Pojman s No Rest And Justice Essay1384 Words   |  6 PagesUtilitarianism is the concept that â€Å"holds that actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness; wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness.† In summation, the consequentialist theory states, in reference to Dr. Peetush, that morally â€Å"good† actions are those that promote â€Å"the greatest good for the greatest number of people.† For instance, if a utilitarian were faced with the dilemma of having to kill an innocent for the welfare of 100 other innocents, he would justifyRead MoreCan Utilitarianism Be Defended Against The Injustice Ob jection?1361 Words   |  6 PagesCan Utilitarianism be defended against the Injustice Objection?    In this essay, I will argue that utilitarianism cannot be defended against the injustice objection. 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My objection will be about how classical utilitarianism ignores justice and moral rights, and I will argue how this can undermine the theory. I will then discuss how this theory cannot be saved from this objection. Classical utilitarianism is a form of consequentialism where actions are judged only by the consequences of the action (act based). According to Hodgson (1967), the act is only right if it was to have the best consequencesRead MoreA Consequentialist Action Is The Moral Worth Of An Act891 Words   |  4 Pages A consequentialist action is a utilitarian theory. The utilitarian theory is a choice between two acts that can maximize utility for the greatest amount of happiness for the greatest number of people. Utilitarianism is the moral worth of an act. Utilitarian takes the right proportion of utilities to promote happiness and prevent pain. Utilities is the expressed quality of happiness or satisfaction one gets from something (Mossier, 2013). 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