Utilitarianism, Economics and Ethics Essay -- Flaws in Utilitarianism

Imagine a child living in a hot, government owned apartment in Chicago. He has no father. With his single, jobless mother he struggles to the words of the founding fathers We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men ar created equal that they are endow by their Creator with inherent and inalienable Rights that among these, are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness... (The Declaration of liberty). This is one of the most famous phrases in the US Declaration of Independence and has receive the underpinning of the dreams of millions of people around the world. Although the words are different, these sentiments are reflected in the political and economical policies of many democracies. While the notion of happiness for all seems like the unmistakable solution to many of our persistent problems, we inevitably encounter conflicts between our actions and our morals. The state is based onthe contradiction between public and private life, between ecumenical and particular interests. For this reason, the state must confine itself to formal, negative activities.(Marx, 1992). This essay focuses on the issues of a prominent theory, Utilitarianism as it blends and encompasses two areas of Economics and morals which have proceed the basis of our governmental bodies. In Utilitarianism the aim of our actions is to achieve happiness for the greatest number of people. Actions are right in proportion as they tend to shape up happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness. (Mill, 1971). Utilitarianism directly appeals to human emotions and our reactions to different events. Emotions are a fundamental Way of Knowing and influence both ethical and economical theories. In most cultures there are fundame... ...eories to stay stagnant and restrictive at the same time as our economies, ethical systems and societies are changing so dramatically right in front of us? Works CitedBrannigan, Jack. The Purpose of Life & the General Theory of Ethics. Nebraska, USA iUniverse, 2005.The Declaration of Independence A Transcription. Web. 14 June 2015.http//www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration_transcript.htmlJenkins, Author Joe. Ethics and Religion. Oxford, UK Heinemann Educational Publishers, 2003. Lagemaat, Richard van de. Theory of Knowledge for the IB Diploma. Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press, 2005. Marx, Karl. Early Writings. London, UK Penguin Classics, 1992. Rothbard, Murray N. Ethics of Liberty. New York, USA New York University Press, 1998.Sen, Amartya. On Ethics and Economics. Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing, 1988.