“Utilitarianism is a theory in normative ethics holding that the best moral action is the one that maximizes utility.” -Wikipedia
The very next sentence starts with “Utility is defined in various ways...” It is entirely possible for there to be utility functions that treat sentient beings differently. John Stuart Mill may have phrased it as “the greatest good for the greatest number” but the clutch is in the word “good” which is left undefined. This is as opposed to, say, virtue ethics which doesn’t care per se about the consequences of actions.
Er… no. Utilitarianism prohibits that exact thing by design. That’s one of its most important aspects.
Read the definition. This is unambiguous.
“Utilitarianism is a theory in normative ethics holding that the best moral action is the one that maximizes utility.” -Wikipedia
The very next sentence starts with “Utility is defined in various ways...” It is entirely possible for there to be utility functions that treat sentient beings differently. John Stuart Mill may have phrased it as “the greatest good for the greatest number” but the clutch is in the word “good” which is left undefined. This is as opposed to, say, virtue ethics which doesn’t care per se about the consequences of actions.