more from this thinker     |     more from this text

Single Idea 3877

[filed under theme 23. Ethics / E. Utilitarianism / 4. Unfairness ]

Full Idea

If I discreetly murdered a gloomy and solitary tramp who was upsetting people in my village, if is hard to see how utilitarianism could demonstrate that I had done something wrong.

Gist of Idea

Utilitarianism seems to justify the discreet murder of unhappy people

Source

PG (Db (ideas) [2031])

The 3 ideas with the same theme [problem of unequal distribution of pleasure or pain]:

6570 Imagine millions made happy on condition that one person suffers endless lonely torture [James]
22406 The maximisation of happiness must be done fairly [Rawls, by Smart]
3877 Utilitarianism seems to justify the discreet murder of unhappy people [PG]