Advantages Of Utilitarianism

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As the French Enlightenment period announced the start of the decline of absolutist regimes, demands for democracy emerged. The idea was to achieve a fairer political system that would benefit the people rather than the monarch, that is to allow a rule of the people, by the people, for the people. However, direct democracy being an impracticable system in countries today more populous than the smaller-sized Ancient Greek cities, the political system adopted by an increasing number of countries starting from the 18th century was representative democracy, in which the population elects representatives who will rule in their name. In the end, however, as individuals have conflicting interests, unanimity is nearly impossible to achieve and decisions must be adopted by the majority so as to satisfy the most people possible. Democracy fits Bentham’s utilitarian criteria of a right political system that makes the interests of rulers coincide with the interests of the people, rather than on the benevolence of absolute monarchs. The system rests on the idea that officials being …show more content…

It is thus seen as too demanding, as it demands that one sacrifices oneself for the greater good. It is also deemed too permissive, as it approves the torture of innocent people if that is the only way to protect many others from harm. Mulgan illustrates these ideas through a tale of unreasonable of what he calls unreasonable demands, the sheriff. In an isolated town in the wild west, you are the sheriff. Bob is accused by most people of committing a murder, but you know Bob is not guilty. However, unless Bob is executed, people will riot and several will die. According to utilitarianism, Bob is to be hung because his life it outweighed by the interest in maintaining social stability and avoid more

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