Question

Explain why utilitarianism is generally considered a liberal ethical proposal?

Answer 1

Utilitarianism is based on the ethical principle of maximum pleasure or happiness to maximum number of people. This happiness depends upon the prevention of harm principle. The main concern of this ethical philosophy is to prevent harm, this makes it more broad ranging as there are many ways to minimize the harm, thus, giving it a more flexible and liberal approach in ethics. Kant's Deontology is a duty bound ethics and the virtue ethics is bound to the characters or traits, whereas, in Utilitarianism there's no such boundaries for moral actions, it could be duty that could bring out maximum happiness to majority or the trait that could bring the desired consequences. Thus, it gives flexibility to ethics and hence, is generally considered as a liberal ethical proposal.