Greater Good

Argument:
Utilitarian Theory Ethical and Legal Perspective:
According to the ethical theory of utilitarianism, the optimal course of behavior is the one

that maximizes overall happiness or pleasure. When analyzing "The Maze Runner: The Death

Cure" from a utilitarian perspective, one has to consider the character’s actions and outcomes in

terms of happiness or general well-being. If an action leads to greater happiness for the majority,

utilitarianism may be criticized for potentially supporting behaviors that may violate individual

rights or unfairly treat minorities. This raises concerns regarding individual rights and the

justification of sacrificing some for the benefit of others from an ethical and legal perspective.

Utilitarianism can be used to examine the results of actions and assess their moral significance

based on the general well-being they generate from a legal and ethical perspective. The

utilitarian point of view would suggest that it is morally acceptable to sacrifice a small number of

people in order to eradicate the virus and rescue the majority. Characters may use utilitarian

principles when faced with a decision that may impact the group as a whole. For instance, they

could compare the possible harm to individuals with the group's overall benefit. Making

sacrifices for the greater good or prioritizing the betterment of the majority above the interests of

a few. Ethical viewpoints may raise concerns about whether there are ever any limitations to the

sacrifice of individuals for the good of the majority as well as if outcomes may ever justify the

way it is done. From a legal perspective, acts that put the greater good ahead of individual rights

may be in violation of the law. This throws a question on whether some legal activities are

justified, particularly when they do harm individuals or a whole. An influential moral theory

called utilitarianism says that every aspect of actions that is predicted to result in the greatest

good is the right one to follow. (Savulescu et al., 2020).

Savulescu, J., Persson, I. and Wilkinson, D. (2020) ‘Utilitarianism and the pandemic’, Bioethics,

34(6), pp. 620–632. doi:10.1111/bioe.12771.