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In terms of main stream society, Dostoevsky main characters’ action more likely than not wouldn’t be proven ethically justifiable, but according to the moral standard of Utilitarianism the reason behind the main characters plot can be justifiable whereas the concept of Wickedness purposed by Stanley Ben clearly states the main character actions where evil and unethical. In Stanley Ben’s concept on wickedness, he explains that wickedness can be broken down into four types, one of which is selfishness.
He explains that a ” merely selfish person pursues his or her own good, disregarding the rights and good of others” ( The moral Life). Using this concept, the main character’s actions in Dostoevsky novel can not be ethically justified. The murder of the old women alone is considered a wicked act. His actions prove to be a selfish form of Wickedness when the main purpose behind the murder seems only to be to obtain her money and pay his way through college.
He augurs that the old women is malicious and useless to herself and society, yet, by murdering her you are disregarding her rights and though perhaps the old women may have been considered malicious, committing an evil act against another person, regardless of who and what they’ve done is wicked and there or not ethically justifiable. The leading consequentiality theory is Utilitarianism, “the view that right actions are those that result in the most beneficial balance of good over bad consequences for everyone The Moral Life). Utilitarianism encourages us to maximize the normal good of everyone who is affected, regardless of the contrary urging of moral rules or unbending moral principles. The rightness of the actions depends solely on the relative good produced by individual actions. In Dostoevsky novel the main character carries out the murder of an old women. He argues that she is luscious, petty, cantankerous and scheming, useless to herself and to society. According to the Utilitarianism theory, killing such a women would only produce a greater balance of good over bad than any alternative acts.
He also augurs the old women’s money if found dead would only fall into the hands of chisellers any. Nay, whereas he would use it to pay for his education. Clearly producing a greater balance of good over bad. Stanley Ben’s concept on wickedness, and Utilitarianism are completely different concepts that both produce separate consequences. Stanley Ben’s wickedness believes sickness n human beings raises special problems because wicked people not merely are evil but also do evil, with evil intent.
Utilitarianism encourages us to maximize the normal good of everyone who is affected, regardless of the contrary urging of moral rules or unbending moral principles. Maxing total happiness is the fundamental concern whether everyone gets am equal portion or one person gets the lion’s share. Approaching the main characters plot of murder using the Utilitarianism concept provides no consequences for him and in fact encourages the behavior as long as it’s for the greater good.