Utilitarianism in Crime and Punishment Essay - 1874 Words

Utilitarianism in Crime and Punishment Raskolnikovs mathematical evaluation of the moral dilemma presented to him in Dostoevskys Crime and Punishment exemplifies the empirical view of utilitarianism. Utilitarianism attempts to distinguish between right and wrong by measuring a decision based on its calculated worth. Raskolnikov appears to employ the fundamentals of utilitarianism by pitting the negative consequences of murdering his old landlady against the positive benefits that her money would bestow onto society. However, a true follower of utilitarianism would be outraged at Raskolnikovs claim that murdering the old woman can be considered morally right. Raskolnikov arbitrarily†¦show more content†¦Employing the utilitarian principle, I would have to weigh each option and then decide which one has consequences at least as good as or better than any of the other options possible. But, what standard do I use to gauge the consequences in order to choose the best alternative? The theory of right action does not stand alone as the only condition for ethical evaluations. To measure the given alternatives, I would have to apply the theory of value. The theory of value bases itself on the premise that pleasure is the only thing valuable in itself and as an end. Mill clearly states, that all desirable things are desirable either for pleasure inherent in themselves or as means to the promotion of pleasure and the prevention of pain . In my moral dilemma, I had to take each alternative and calculate the total amount of pleasure that each would produce, minus the total amount of pain each alternative would induce. So while not doing the paper might give me the most amount of immediate pleasure, the pain that I would incur upon receiving an F in my class would greatly reduce the amount of net pleasure. On the other hand, I might experience some pain (due to boredom, frustration, etc.) from writing the paper. However, this amountShow MoreRelatedUtilitarianism In Dostoevskys Crime And Punishment770 Words   |  4 PagesIn the novel Crime and Punishment the main characters Raskolnikov, Svid, and Sonya embody different philosophies. Throughout the novel you can tell which philosophies Dostoevsky likes and dislikes depending on the character. Sonya represents religion, Raskolnikov represents utilitarianism, and Svid represents a utilitarian hedonist. Throughout this novel these characters help to describe the psychology of a criminal and paint the path between crime and punishment. This novel is told almost entirelyRead MoreMorality And Its Effect On Society1196 Words   |  5 Pagescan prove that punishment is moral because it will reduce crime, it will give satisfaction to society, and it will deter other potential offenders. Punishment involves the deliberate infliction of suffering on an offender for a violation they caused such as a crime they did. 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