UTILITARIANIS

M OF POLITICAL
OBLIGATIONS
AKANSHA SRIVASTAVA
ROLL NO. 06
INTRODUCTION TO
POLITICAL OBLIGATIONS
 The term ‘obligation’ originates from a Latin word ‘obligate’
implying something that binds men to an engagement or
performing what is enjoined. The moral obligation to obey
the law, or as it is generally called, political obligation, is a
moral requirement to obey the laws of one’s country.
Traditionally, this has been viewed as a requirement of a
certain kind, to obey the law because it is the law, as opposed
to the content of particular laws.
INTRODUCTION TO
UTILITARIANISM
 Utilitarianism is a theory of morality, which advocates actions
that foster happiness or pleasure and opposes actions that
cause unhappiness or harm. When directed toward making
social, economic, or political decisions, a utilitarian
philosophy would aim for the betterment of society as a
whole. Utilitarianism would say that an action is right if it
results in the happiness of the greatest number of people in a
society or a group.
UNDERSTANDING
UTILITARIANISM
 Utilitarianism is a tradition of ethical philosophy that is
associated with Jeremy Bentham (1758-1832) and John Stuart
Mill (1806-1873), two late 18th- and 19th-century British
philosophers, economists, and political thinkers. Utilitarianism
holds that an action is right if it tends to promote happiness
and wrong if it tends to produce sadness.
THE THREE GENERALLY
ACCEPTED AXIOMS OF
UTILITARIANISM
 Pleasure, or happiness, is the only thing that has intrinsic
value.
 Actions are right if they promote happiness, and wrong if
they promote unhappiness.
 Everyone's happiness counts equally.
UTILITARIANISM IN
CORPORATE WORKPLACE
 Most companies have a formal or informal code of ethics, which
is shaped by their corporate culture, values, and regional laws.
Today, having a formalized code of business ethics is more
important than ever. For a business to grow, it not only needs to
increase its bottom line, but it also must create a reputation for
being socially responsible. On an individual level, if you make
morally correct decisions at work, then everyone's happiness
will increase. However, if you choose to do something morally
wrong—even if legal—then your happiness and that of your
colleagues, will decrease.
UTILITARIANISM IN BUSINESS
AND COMMERCE
 Utilitarianism holds that the most ethical choice is the one that will
produce the greatest good for the greatest number. The theory
asserts that there are two types of utilitarian ethics practiced in the
business world, "rule" utilitarianism and "act" utilitarianism.

Rule utilitarianism helps the largest number of people using the

fairest methods possible.

Act utilitarianism makes the most ethical actions possible for the
benefit of the people.
LIMITATIONS OF
UTILITARIANISM
 A limitation of utilitarianism is that it tends to create a black-
and-white construct of morality. In utilitarian ethics, there are
no shades of gray—either something is wrong or it is right.
 Utilitarianism also cannot predict with certainty whether the
consequences of our actions will be good or bad—the results
of our actions happen in the future.
 Utilitarianism also has trouble accounting for values like
justice and individual rights.
CONCLUSION
 In conclusion, the theory of utilitarianism is sound, logical and
consistent. Utilitarian ethics follow the law of greatest
happiness. According to this law, human beings seek to
decrease suffering and maximize happiness. Hence, an action
that is correct morally must lead to the greatest possible
pleasure. This also implies that actions that cause pain on
human beings are morally wrong. As seen in the arguments
above, this theory is beyond reproach, as it caters for all
possible objections.