PSCI231 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Economic Efficiency, Minimax, Business Cycle
23 Apr 2013
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Utilitarianism is a usually described as the greatest happiness for the greatest number. It reflects the action that produces the most happiness for people; meaning that an action is good if it produces a higher ultility of happiness. The thoery treats all members of a society equally, balances the inequalities in wealth between rich and poor people and justifies human acts. For example, consider a single mother stealing baby formlua. In this case, the mother is not harming anyone else and her baby is getting the food it needs. The happiness of the mother is justified because her actions did not harm anyone, and her baby having enough food increases her ulitily. John: mill would focus on the things that give people happiness rather than judeging actions based on religion and culture. It is understood that utilitarianism measures the total hapiness of people.
