Similarly, it might happen. that the general welfare is promoted by punishing people excessively -- a greater punishment might have a greater deterrent effect. But both of these are, on their face,.violations of justice, which Retributivism would never allow." (Rachels, 135)
The danger presented here is one which threatens under any condition of ethical diversion. In the case of lying, there is an inherent danger that establishing an acceptance of divergence from truth as a moral norm under the pretense that such lying is geared toward sustenance of happiness could open the floodgates for the spectrum of interpretations as to how such happiness may be optimally attained. Herein lay the promise of a breakdown in social order about which Kant initially warns.
Mill's rule of exception, which allows that lying is wrong only 'in general,' is one founded on the intent to disestablish the hegemonic establishment of moral values. By siting happiness as the primary directive of morality, the utilitarians do succeed at removing many of the ulterior motives...
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