Answer to Question #115062 in Sociology for Lea

Question

A billionaire needs an organ transplant. He says that if he is given the next suitable organ he will fund 1000 hip-replacements a year for 10 years. Giving him the next available organ means Mr X, who was top of the list, will die - but it also means that thousands of people will be very happy with their new hips. When viewed from a consequentialist stand point what will be the proper course of action in this case? Is the same course of action true if we consider the case from a stand point of Duty- Based Ethics? Why or why nott?

Answer 1

When viewed from a consequentialist stand point giving an organ transplant to the billionaire will be the proper course of action in this case as a greatest good will be done for the greatest number; and the opposite choice will be according to the Duty- Based Ethics.