Utilitarian Ethical Theory and Abortion

Scenario:

A 35-year-old banker has a one-night stand with a 30-year-old bus boy. She becomes pregnant and wants to keep the baby, but the father wants her to get an abortion. Their friends and both families believe she should keep the baby. She decides to keep the baby.

Step 1: Identifying the Stakeholders

The stakeholders in this scenario are:

• The pregnant woman
• The father of the baby
• Their friends
• Their families

Step 2: Applying the Principle of Utility

The Principle of Utility states that we should act in a way that promotes the greatest happiness of the greatest number of people. In this scenario, we need to consider the potential happiness of each stakeholder.

The pregnant woman wants to keep the baby, so we can assume that she will be happy if she does. However, the father of the baby does not want to be a father, so he is likely to be unhappy if she keeps the baby. Their friends and families may be happy for the pregnant woman if she keeps the baby, but they may also be concerned about the financial and emotional burden of raising a child.

It is difficult to say definitively whether the pregnant woman’s decision to keep the baby will promote the greatest happiness of the greatest number of people. However, it is possible that her decision will make more people happy than unhappy.

Step 3: Applying the Concept of Self-Regarding Conduct

Self-regarding conduct is behavior that affects only the person who performs it. In this scenario, the pregnant woman’s decision to keep the baby is primarily a self-regarding decision. It will have a significant impact on her life, but it will not have a direct impact on the lives of the other stakeholders.

Step 4: Applying the Concept of Other-Regarding Conduct

Other-regarding conduct is behavior that affects other people. In this scenario, the pregnant woman’s decision to keep the baby will have an indirect impact on the other stakeholders. For example, the father of the baby will be financially responsible for the child, and the pregnant woman’s friends and family may be called upon to provide support.

Step 5: Agreement with the Principle of Utility

I agree with the Principle of Utility in that it requires us to act in a way that promotes the greatest happiness of the greatest number of people. However, I also believe that it is important to consider the rights of individuals. In the scenario above, the pregnant woman has the right to make decisions about her own body.

Step 6: Explanation

I agree with the Principle of Utility because it is based on the idea that we should strive to make the world a better place for everyone. When we make decisions that promote the greatest happiness of the greatest number of people, we are making the world a more just and equitable place.

However, I also believe that it is important to consider the rights of individuals. We should not sacrifice the rights of individuals in order to promote the greatest happiness of the greatest number of people. In the scenario above, the pregnant woman has the right to make decisions about her own body, even if her decision does not promote the greatest happiness of the greatest number of people.

Conclusion

The Principle of Utility is a complex and controversial ethical theory. It is important to weigh the benefits and drawbacks of the theory before applying it to real-world situations. In the scenario above, it is difficult to say definitively whether the pregnant woman’s decision to keep the baby will promote the greatest happiness of the greatest number of people. However, it is important to respect her right to make her own decision.