Full Idea
Most uitlitarians do not distinguish between acts and omissions, and see no morally relevant difference between walking past a drowning child and pushing a child into a pond.
Gist of Idea
Utilitarians conflate acts and omissions; causing to drown and failing to save are the same
Source
Andrew Shorten (Contemporary Political Theory [2016], 09)
Book Reference
Shorten,Andrew: 'Contemporary Political Theory' [Palgrave 2016], p.264
A Reaction
He cites Peter Singer as an instance. The notorious Trolley Problem focuses on such issues. Michael Sandel in 'Justice' is good on that. If motive and intention matter, the two cases could be very different. Too timid to push, but also too timid to help?