1. ‘The New Testament principle of Agape is a better guide to ethical decision making than the Utilitarian principle of happiness.’ Discuss. Robert Brown

2. Part one Agape summary: - Is an idea of unconditional love for all people whether you know them or not and whether you like them or not! - Popularly taught by Jesus. -‘Love your neighbour’ -Agape is strongly used in situation ethics -Related to the ‘golden rule’ which is strongly established in all branches of ethics so has a strong standing -Seems like a good thing, in an idealistic view

3. Part Two utilitarian summary: -a normative ethical theory based upon the idea of maximising pleasure and minimising pain -Two main scholars are jeremy bentham (act) and john stuart mill (rule) -Bentham created the hedonic caclulus; a series of steps that are supposed to enable you to make a decision that will bring about the most pleasure and happiness -Teleological theory -‘the greatest balance of pleasure over pain for the greatest number’

4. Part Three – is Agape better? -the concept of agape does not disregard minorities -Agape was taught by jesus who is the son of god and so has divine authority -Happiness is likely to follow from love rather than love following from happiness -One persons happiness may be another persons sadness e.g. nestle managing director and poor coffee bean worker -Agape has a clearly defined end; to enable people to achieve salvation by doing gods will -If everyone had agape then all disputes and wars would be solved -Love is always good (and from god) -Agape is optimistic, utilitarianism is realistic -the new testament version of agape relies upon the existence of god or its end is made invalid -How can you love someone whose just murdered your best friend? -Mills branch of utilitarianism protects people from being hurt -everyone wants happiness but not everyone wants salvation -Agape would only work if everyone chose to do it, as it stands only a minority follow it, so whats the point -Utilitarianism meets the needs of society and not just yours

5. I think agape is a better guide to ethical decision making even though it is unbelievably optimistic. The world we live in now will never be governed by agape so utilitarianism is applicable to today’s society. But this is why agape is so good, we as people need to have something to look towards and work upon – it is hard to love everyone unconditionally – but the results it brings are likely to be worth it (the n.t. teaches about how christians will have to suffer but their reward for living correctly will be much greater). Utilitarianism doesn’t care about individual people which is sad, in the new testament jesus teaches about how everyone is equal in gods eyes and this is maintained in agape. So agape is better because it would give a perfect world and also benefit both individuals and whole societies.