What is the point of the example from Chapter 11 in which you must choose between rescuing your mother or a famous cancer researcher from a burning building?
A) To prove that act utilitarianism is not the correct normative theory.
B) To show that some people are more useful to society than others.
C) To demonstrate a particular kind of mistake that many people make in applying act utilitarianism to particular cases.
D) To illustrate that act utilitarianism sometimes leads to surprising conclusions about what you should do.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This example is used to illustrate that act utilitarianism, which suggests that one should always act in a way that maximizes overall happiness or utility, can lead to conclusions that are counterintuitive or surprising, such as the idea that it might be more morally correct to save a stranger who could benefit society more than a loved one.

What Is the Point of the Example from Chapter 11