Final answer:
Utilitarianism is an ethical theory that focuses on maximizing overall happiness. Critics argue that ethical experiments only elicit emotional reactions, but this is not commonly addressed by utilitarians.
Step-by-step explanation:
Utilitarianism is an ethical theory that focuses on maximizing the overall happiness for the greatest number of people. While some people criticize utilitarianism for going against basic rights such as the right to live and steal, utilitarians argue that the consequences of an action should determine its moral correctness. They believe that acting in a way that produces the greatest amount of pleasure or satisfaction for the most people is morally right.
However, some criticisms of utilitarianism have raised concerns about the method used to evaluate moral decisions. It is argued that ethical moral experiments, known as Gedanken experiments, only elicit emotional reactions and cannot prove more than feelings. This is because humans are emotional beings, and reason is used to regulate emotions and expand comprehension. Therefore, any reaction to such experiments will always be emotional. However, this argument is not commonly used by utilitarians as a defense.