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The Requiring Attitude of Volunteers from the Standpoint of Utilitarianism

Kim Sunghan 1

1숙명여자대학교

Accredited

ABSTRACT

Generally, utilitarianism is an ethical theory, characterized by hedonism, consequentialism and universalism, by pursuing the greatest happiness to the greatest extent. It represents the ethical theory associated with Kant's ethical theory. If we accept this theory, it might provide some guidance to volunteers which they have to accept. First, utilitarians believe that the result is more important than the motive. Therefore, even if the motive is not as good, utilitarians will ask themselves the question as to which can produce more happiness and remove pain. Here, we have to be careful as not to think that utilitarians only consider the result to be important. They also think that motive is as much important. However, when the result and the motive are in conflict, they prefer the result over the motive. Utilitarians think highly of the motive because a good motive may produce continuous happiness. Second, as utilitarians do not distinguish between doing and not doing, they believe that ignoring a neighbor's pain can be evil. They also think that we must positively consider the interest of consumer services as well as volunteers. Finally, if we accept utilitarianism, we must seriously consider the greatest happiness to the greatest extent. It is closely connected with the changing constitutional and institutional aspects of our society. However, the power of the individual is too weak to change these aspects. The alternative of this might be "Let your left hand know what your right hand is doing." For example, if an individual organizes a volunteer society and works with other people, this might be an effort to pursue greatest happiness to the greatest extent in the individual’s daily life.

Citation status

* References for papers published after 2023 are currently being built.