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Full Idea
The first main argument for utilitarianism is that people matter equally, and hence each person's interests should be given equal weight, and hence morally right acts will maximise utility.
Gist of Idea
One view says start with equality, and infer equal weight to interests, and hence maximum utility
Source
Will Kymlicka (Contemporary Political Philosophy (1st edn) [1990], 2.4.a)
Book Ref
Kymlicka,Will: 'Contemporary Political Philosophy (1st edn)' [OUP 1992], p.31
A Reaction
The point is that this starts from the aim of equality, and infers maximum utility as its consequence. Equality has a primitive value. Whenever you dig down to a primitive value in a theory, I just find myself puzzled. What can justify basic equality?
Related Idea
Idea 18627 A second view says start with maximising the good, implying aggregation, and hence equality [Kymlicka]