Question

How might a utilitarian person respond to the magistrate and the mob?

Answer 1

“Utilitarian person” (someone who subscribes to Utilitarianism), but, as Jeremy Bentham (the father of Utilitarianism) often pointed out, Utilitarianism is a very general theory and does not necessarily proscribe any sort of application (this is usually where people get into trouble). Thus, while I can offer my analysis of the case of the Magistrate and the Mob, it cannot be said to be the single Utilitarian view, because Utilitarianism is a guiding principle in evaluating answers, not a panacea