The Greatest Good of the Greatest NumberUtilitarianism, promulgated by Victorian liberal reformers in 19th-century England and influential ever since, does not look at people’s duties or rights, but rather judges actions by their consequences.
In its crudest form, if an action benefits “the greatest good of the greatest number," then the utilitarian calculus will justify it.
Thus, sacrificing a few can be justified, providing this clearly benefits the many.When dealing with rationing health care, utilitarian choices involve concepts like the QALY: the quality-adjusted life year.
How many years of life will be lost when comparing two alternative paths, and how good will those extra years of life be? A healthy teenager takes priority over a.