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Question: What does the word UTILITARIANISM mean when it is applied to politics!? Does it mean "the greatest good fo all"!?
i don't understand when politicians talk about utilitarianism because i have only come across the term in ethics!.Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
John Stuart Mill, a brilliant man who existed in the 1800's, developed the moral theory of utilitarianism!. Basically, it uses a simple math like equation to figure out moral dilemmas where you try to maximize 'the good'!. So, if an action maximize the good then it is morally correct according to this theory!. However, this theory is not too popular with philosophers these days, due mainly to glaring shortcomings whereby some actions that are clearly immoral could be considered moral from a utilitarian perspective!. The notorious example is where there are 10 people on a boat and everyone will die unless one gets thrown off!. A utilitarian would throw someone off the boat - probably the weakest/oldest one!. Of course, a lot of people like this idea, until they realize how it could implicate them!. Expand the example so that a country with more citizens than your country will experience mass casualties unless it kills off a sizable population from another country - your country!. Still sound good!?
In terms of politics, utilitarianism has usually meant the greatest good for the richest most powerful people (example: privatized health care is regularly promoted as being the best for everyone overall - yeah some might fall through the cracks but an overwhelming majority benefit - which is BS - what they mean to say is that rich people benefit because they can out bid poor people for hearts and livers)!. So, yeah, utilitarianism is attractive because of it's simplicity, but otherwise more or less morally vacant!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Utilitarian is synonymous with practical!.Www@QuestionHome@Com