Final answer:
The main weakness of utilitarianism is that it fails to respect individual rights.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the main weakness of utilitarianism is that it fails to respect individual rights is true. Utilitarianism focuses on maximizing overall happiness or the greatest good for the greatest number of people, without considering the impact on individual rights. This means that, in certain situations, utilitarianism may justify actions that violate individual rights if it leads to overall happiness.
For example, act utilitarianism could justify a vigilante killing a person if it saves lives and maximizes happiness. However, this goes against our normal sense of right conduct and infringes upon the individual's right to life.
In summary, while utilitarianism aims to promote the greatest good, it may overlook or disregard individual rights in certain situations.