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Utilitarian
Nic Tideman: PJER
While Utilitarianism is
presented above as a version of
Contractarianism, some people might argue for Utilitarianism
independently of any such foundations. If the argument simply begins
with the proposition that aggregate utility should be maximized, then
there is a similar disregard for personhood. A person is then simply
a device for generating utility; whether the utility is for herself
or for someone else is irrelevant. People matter only to the extent
that they are generators of utility. To those seeking explanations of
why it is right for power to be used to prevent them from achieving
their ends, this is just as dissatisfying as explanations based on
hypothetical people in a contractual setting.
The great value of utilitarianism
is as an ethical principle for
allocating largess that is rightfully one's to allocate. If a person
must decide whether to allow A to achieve purpose 1 or B to achieve
purpose 2, the judgement that purpose 1 would contribute more to
person A's utility than purpose 2 would contribute to person B's
utility is an excellent reason for deciding in favor of person A. But
justice is not concerned with largess. It is concerned with what is
due to persons just from being persons, without having to prove their
worthiness any further. ...
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... because democracy
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prosper
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