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Essay / Utilitarianism Analysis of Bernard Williams - 742
For George, honesty is a commitment; he is strongly devoted to it. George is a doctor and one day he performs a procedure on a patient. Something is wrong and the procedure is not working. The patient suffers greatly for hours before finally dying. Based on utilitarian theory, George should lie to the family because it would maximize their happiness in the situation, or more realistically, it would minimize their pain. Should George give in to the family project at the expense of his own? Utilitarianism states that George, despite his principle of honesty, should approach the patient's family and tell them that she did not suffer. He should say that she died quickly and painlessly. But that would be lying and going against what George values most. Utilitarianism says that George should sacrifice his integrity to maximize