The Utility of Utilitarianism

Utilitarianism is the moral belief that an action is right if it produces the greatest good for the most number of people. It is often based on the calculated consequence or outcome of a certain action. If you think an action will bring the maximum amount of happiness to the most number of people, then it is the right thing to do. Raskolnikov appears to employ the fundamentals of utilitarianism by pitting the negative consequences of murdering his old landlady against the positive benefits that her money would bestow onto society. However, a true follower of utilitarianism would never make Raskolnikov's claim that murdering the old woman can beconsidered morally right.