Is Utilitarianism a defensible ethical theory? What are the main problems it faces? Utilitarianism is an ethical theory that seems to have lots of problems, but when analysing an ethical theory you must keep in mind that the main motive behind anyone’s moral values is that they believe them to be correct. So in this respect any ethical theory is defensible by one who believes in its virtues, even if you find the moral …showed first 75 words of 2463 total…

…showed last 75 words of 2463 total…of action. When trying to rectify the seemingly immoral results from the theory, by the introduction of rules, again the theory, or peoples belief in it is open to debate. Overall utilitarianism seems to fall flat on its face in too many situations to be called an adequate moral philosophy. Bibliography. John Stuart Mill (1861) Utilitarianism F. Feldman (1978) Introductory Ethics J.J.C. Smart and B. Williams (1973) Utilitarianism For and Against Nigel Warburton (1995) Philosophy – The Basics