Utilitarian

Paper Summary:

This paper reviews and discusses and compares utilitarianism, libertarianism and contractarianism. According to the paper, John Mills is known as the father of utilitarianism and John Rawl defines the theory of contractarianism.

From the Paper:

"Utilitarians might beg to differ with this statement since what they would suggest is that individuals have the responsibility to do what is best for the most amount of people. Utilitarianism could be described as an effort to provide an answer to the practical questions "What ought a man to do?" According to utilitarian theory the answer to that question would be that man ought to act so as to produce the best consequences possible. Using the utilitarian approach, and individual must first analyze the issue by identifying the different courses of action that are available, and after such analyzing decide on the course that would be most beneficial for the largest number of people."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Encyclopedia Britanica, Utilitarianism, http://www.britannica.com/ebc/article-9381661, accessed January 12, 2007
• Narveson, Jan, (2003) The Contractarian Theory of Morals: Frequently Asked Questions, Aufklarung und Kritik, Sonderheft, pp 100 - 122
• Narveson, Jan, (1992) The Libertarian Idea, Philadelphia: Temple University Press
• Rawls, John (2001) Justice as Fairness: A Restatement, E. Kelly (ed), Cambridge, Harvard University
• Risse, Mathias (2002) Rawls on Responsibility and Primary Goods, Cambridge, Harvard University

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