Under which circumstances would utilitarians favor aredistribution of income from poor individuals to richindividuals?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Utilitarians would favor a redistribution of income from poor individuals to rich individuals if the marginal utility lost by the poor individuals (due to the decrease in income) was less than the marginal utility gained by the rich individuals (due to the increase in income). This is because utilitarians prioritize maximizing overall utility or happiness, and in this case, the benefit to the rich individuals would outweigh the harm to the poor individuals. Option A (always) is incorrect as utilitarians do not believe in absolute principles and consider each situation uniquely. Option C (if the marginal utility gained by poor individuals was less than the marginal utility lost by the rich individuals) is incorrect as it goes against the principle of maximizing overall utility. Option D (never) is incorrect as it ignores potential situations where a redistribution of income could lead to an overall increase in utility.

Under Which Circumstances Would Utilitarians Favor Aredistribution of Income from Poor