你是个实用主义者，还是个功利主义者？

温哥华英文教练，致力于地道英文表达

Pragmatism/utilitarianism

Pragmatism是实用主义；务实思想，即关注一件事情是否实用practical，而不是从抽象的角度看问题，通俗地说，就是来点实际的，而不是玩虚的。例如：She had a reputation for clear thinking and pragmatism。

Utilitarianism是功利主义。所谓功利主义，简单来说，是一种伦理学上的概念，认为判断一件事情是好是坏，要从结果上看，结果是好的，那么这事儿就值得做，反之则不值得。功利主义在历史上曾产生过巨大的影响，也招致广泛的批评。举例来说， assume a hospital has four people whose lives depend upon receiving organ transplants: a heart, lungs, a kidney, and a liver. If a healthy person wanders into the hospital, his organs could be harvested to save four lives at the expense of one life. This would arguably produce the greatest good for the greatest number. But few would consider it an acceptable course of action, let alone the most ethical one. So, although utilitarianism is arguably the most reason-based approach to determining right and wrong, it has obvious limitations.

上面这句话的大意是，一间医院有四个病人急等物件捐赠，否则随时挂掉。此时，有一个健康人来到这间医院，把他“用了”，可以救四个人的命。从功利主义的角度看，这事儿划算啊。那么，可以吗？能够吗？我相信，大部分有道德底线的人不会同意的。所以，功利主义的利弊算得很精，但局限是明摆着的。

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