Utilitarianism

• Right

  What causes pleasure
• Wrong

  What causes pain
• Strengths:

  • Gives a factual basis for morality
  • Has guidelines and rules
  • Legalistic
  • Ask people what they want - most will say happiness
• Weaknesses 


  • 'Happiness' varies from person to person so cannot be defined
  • Can never be sure of the consequences of our actions
  • Ignores minorities