...And Justice For All: How Do I Make Difficult Decisions?

Throughout life every single individual must make problematic and arduous decisions that can affect their future drastically. When faced with these types of decisions, one can only think of several things. Firstly, a person could only begin to imagine the amount of happiness that both they and others would receive out of this decision. Secondly, they begin to think of the implications that making this decision would cause. As we go through life these decisions will continue to bombard us. However, the true question is how should we should come at these decision in an attempt to ensure the greatest outcome. 

To begin, the amount of happiness of both an individual as well as others is very important. For example, the use of steroids in professional sports. As we know, the use of steroids is both frowned upon and against the rules of professional sports as it is considered to be "cheating". However, there is a major conflict when it comes to this subject. Utilitarianism would argue that by taking steroids an athlete can perform at a higher level than all the other athletes. Consequently, making both all the fans as well as many others very happy. However, Deontology would argue that consuming steroids is a morally atrocious deed and should not be done as it breaks several rules. Regarding my own decisions, I usually look towards what would be the considered the Utilitarian choice. I would chose with this side due to the fact that it would result in the most amount of happiness for everyone.

A rather difficult scenario would be the following. Imagine that there were five people with the same blood type that were all in desperate need of organ transplants. Coincidentally, there is a patient in the waiting room that is perfectly healthy and has the same blood type as the five people. Now, there is a very huge and conflicting predicament. Utilitarianism would argue for the one man who is healthy to give up his life and allow the five others to go and live their respective lives. Deontology would argue that this gentleman has the right to live his life. However, my personal decision would be to go towards the teachings of Mill and Bentham. By taking the life of one person, five other lives will be saved. Thereby creating the greatest possible outcome. Which is why I chose to side with Bentham and Mill, as in order for me to make a decision of a large magnitude I do need to think about the total amount of happiness that this choice would produce.

In conclusion, although both Deontology and Utilitarianism both have very convincing arguments for which side one should agree with, I cannot simply make a decision because it is the morally right thing to do. However, this is why I can make a decision based on the amount of happiness will come out of the choice I have made. Consequently, there are some people that when faced with a difficult choice have no idea to do. But, as Geddy Lee once said, “If you chose not to decide, you still have made a choice", and I believe we can all agree with that.