As a normative ethical theory, Utilitarianism suggests that we can decide what is morally right or morally wrong by weighing up which of our future possible actions promotes such goodness in our lives and the lives of people more generally. Winning the lottery, marrying your true love or securing a desired set of qualifications all seem to be examples of events that improve a person’s life. Some things appear to be straightforwardly good for people. Therefore every pleasure is good because it is of one nature with us but every pleasure is not to be chosen by the same reasoning every pain is an evil but every pain is not such as to be avoided at all times. Pleasure is the beginning and the end of the happy life: because we recognize pleasure as the first good and connate with us and to this we have recourse as to a canon, judging every good by the reaction.
