Excerpt A criticizes the utilitarianism theory, which holds that the correct course of action is one that generates the greatest good. The excerpt raises the objection that it is not possible for someone to do good always for other people at the expense of their own lives. The author explains that according to the utilitarianism theory, someone’s action should aim at providing the greatest good for others than for oneself. However, this good can be draining and excessive and thus, it is not possible for an individual to sacrifice their whole life for the benefit of others even if someone was a saint. The basic point of the objection is to change people’s perception about doing good for others by arguing that it does not always amount to the greatest good. The objection attacks the section of the utilitarian theory that states that resulting outcomes determine the moral value of actions. The basis for the criticism given is that failure to act in a manner that result to optimistic outcomes means an individual is behaving immorally. The author disagrees with this opinion as explained in the utilitarianism theory. The objection raised could be damaging to the theory because it aims to disregard the good done for others and it disputes that failing to act in order to achieve optimistic results does not always mean that one is acting immorally.
The objection raised fails because the fact that a person is doing good for others, he or she still benefits. It is not demanding or excessive to act in a manner that will achieve optimistic results and for the greatest good of everyone. Morality involves other people and therefore it is our moral responsibility as human beings to act in a manner that will achieve optimistic results for the overall good of other people. Every person’s happiness counts in the same manner because good is impartial. Therefore, if I do good, it will not only count for my benefit but for any other person’s benefit. The motive an individual would have for promoting the overall good is the same motive would have to promote the same good. It is not possible to do good for others while it is not benefiting the said individual. As one does good for others with all their means, the person also benefits.
The objection raised is based on problematic assumptions such as doing good would be excessive and demanding for most people. This is an assumption made, which may not be true for everyone because people have different opinions and hold different moral principles. What may be demanding and excessive for one person may not always be the same for another person. The objection also assumes that someone who is having sufficient food, able to go on vacation constantly and can afford decent medical care is not doing good for others. However, this assumption is problematic because the person enjoying those benefits may have done the greatest good he or she can to ensure pleasure for the majority number.
The objection fails to attack the theory in the right way because it assumes that if someone does good for other people, they stand to lose greatly because of the constant sacrifices that someone makes. However, this view is not true because the aim of the utilitarian theory is to act in a particular moral way that not only maximizes overall good for others but also ensures pleasure in the person doing the good. The basic idea of the theory is to do good for the greatest number of people to ensure maximum satisfaction. The theory can be twisted without giving up this basic idea by stating that even if an individual should do good for others, it should not be at the expense of one’s own well-being.
