Compare and contrast the two theological philosophies: egoism and utilitarianism.
Include a discussion of the bases that each type uses to evaluate the morality of
activities.
The ethical theory, consequentialism, says that the morality of an action is directly
connected to the outcome of said action. Both egoism and utilitarianism are concepts that
fall under different categories of consequentialism. While they both differ in many ways,
they both are based around the outcome, and who the outcome benefits, to decide whether
an action is ethical or not. The main difference between utilitarianism and egoism is to
whom those acts are directed.
Utilitarianism
Utilitarianism is the idea that in order for something to be ethical, it helps other people
over the person who carries out the decision. Utilitarianism is based around the fact that
something should be done for the greater good of others, and not necessarily the greater
good for one’s self. An ethical utilitarianism decision may actually harm the person who
makes that decision, however that person understands that the decision is for the greater
good of everybody, instead of just him. In utilitarianism, in order for an action to be
ethical, the number of people benefited must outweigh the number of people harmed in
order to be a good decision.
Egoism
Egoism, on the other hand, is the exact opposite of utilitarianism. Egoism revolves around
the fact that one should always help themselves, instead of others. So in this case, a person
who is making an egoistic decision is mainly thinking about themselves, and might
