Kennedy Lewis
Philosophy 1320
Professor Garcia
21 February 2018 Paper 1
The central idea behind utilitarianism is that it asserts what is right and wrong determined
by focusing on the outcomes of certain choices that one makes. Utilitarianism is based on what is
best for the majority even if that means a worst outcome for one or a few. The Ones Who Walk
away from Omelas, in my opinion, is a perfect example of utilitarianism as in, many people live
graciously but only because the expense of one weeping child.
When trying to make a decision on whether or not one should help this child, one must
examine all of the positive and negatives and follow their moral compass. The positives of
utilitarianism in The Ones Who Walk away from Omelas, obviously, everyone lives in peace
within this amazing utopia. There is no crime, there is no starvation above the soil of Omelas,
