Utilitarianism is the ethical doctrine which essentially states that which is good is
that which brings about the most happiness to the most people. John Stuart Mill believed
that the decisions we make should always benefit the most people as much as possible
regardless of the consequences to the minority or even yourself. He would say all that
matters in the decision of right versus wrong is the amount of happiness produced by the
consequences. In the decisions we make Mill would say that we need to weigh the
outcomes and make our decision based on that outcome that benefits the majority. For
Mill, pleasure is the only desirable consequence of our decisions or actions.
The Judeo-Christian ethic embraced by Augustine places questions of right and
wrong under the authority of a divine creator - God. The Judeo-Christian ethic can be
summed up in one word - Love.
Gods and sodas
A Ten Commandments monument which includes the com...
Plate from Visions of the Daughters of Albion, cop...In Matthew 22:40 Jesus says: "Love the Lord your God
with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and
greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love you neighbor as yourself."
When Augustine said, "Love God and do what you will", I believe he is asserting the fact
that when a person loves God truly he or she is in God's will. John 14:15 says, "If you
love me, you will obey what I command." If a person obeys God which is loving God
and loving his creation then a person is in his will. The decisions made by a person in
God's will are thus ethical decision in view of the fact that God is the ultimate moral
authority. To help his creation in determining right from wrong he has provided the
Bible. Although not every ethical question...