Act Utilitarianism - choose the action that produces the greatest good for the greatest number

 

According to Act Utilitarianism - in any situation, you should choose the action that produces the greatest good for the greatest number. 

This is problematic!

Example - Imagine if you are a doctor and you have eight individuals who badly need organs, you also have a neighbor who has all of the organs that you need, your neighbor is seen as a gross waist of space that now one would miss. 

What do you do? 

Do you murder your neighbor?  

So as an act utilitarian you murder your neighbor and save eight lives. 

Yes you cause some pain, but your neighbor’s pain is a small price to pay to end the pain of those eight people.