Introduction
Social regulation has expanded tremendously over the last decade. This expansion is not only attributed to the increases in federal dollars allocated to regulation but also to the expansion of the social regulation arena. This expansion is a result of an increase in regulatory agencies, increased authority granted to regulators, the increase of technology, national security threats, and national mood. In order to fully understand the evolution of social regulation, we must first understand the core principals and purpose of regulation so that we may identify catalyst for this tremendous growth. This paper will first define social regulation. Next, a brief history of the pathway to today’s modern regulation environment will be laid out. Following, issues and trends that have affected programs will be discussed. Lastly, insight on the possible direction of social regulation in the future will be offered.
Social Regulation- A Utilitarian idea
According to Salamon, social regulation is aimed at restricting behaviors that directly threaten public health, safety, welfare, or well-being (157). He states that there are four elements of Social Regulation: (1) rule that govern expected behavior. (2) Standards that serve as benchmarks, (3) sanctions for non-compliance and (4) administrative apparatus that enforces rules and administers sanctions (Salamon, 158). Dr. Charles Kay, a professor at Wofford College defines Utilitarianism as a theory that defines morality in terms of the maximization of net expectable utility for all parties affected by a decision or action. This theory is in line with the government’s social regulation efforts. The Federal government cohersively or incentivizes
compliance of federal standar...
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...hers has been sustaining such a powerful and progressive nation since its conception and will remain to do so in the future.
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Utilitarianism is a moral theory that states that an action is considered right as long as it promotes the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people. This theory was first proposed by Jeremy Bentham and later was refined by J.S Mill. Mill differs from Bentham by introducing a qualitative view on pleasure and makes a distinction between act utilitarianism and rule utilitarianism. John Hospers critiques utilitarianism and shows that rule utilitarianism under more specific and stricter rules would promote utility better. Bernard Williams believes that utilitarianism is too demanding from people and instead believes virtue ethics is a better solution. Williams seems to have only considered act utilitarianism instead of rule utilitarianism, which may have better responses to the problems proposed by Williams. Sterling Hardwood purposes eleven objections to utilitarianism which can be used to help make compromise between act utilitarianism and rule utilitarianism. I will argue that rule utilitarianism can be formed in such a way that it avoids the problems that arise from Williams, and Hardwood.
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remarkably progressed the American workforce, which all play a part in her being worthy of
In Utilitarianism, J.S. Mill gives an account for the reasons one must abide by the principles of Utilitarianism. Also referred to as the Greatest-happiness Principle, this doctrine promotes the greatest happiness for the greatest amount of people. More specifically, Utilitarianism is a form of consequentialism, holding that the right act is that which yields the greatest net utility, or "the total amount of pleasure minus the total amount of pain", for all individuals affected by said act (Joyce, lecture notes from 03/30).
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Holmes offers three criticisms of utilitarianism. How is one going to achieve it so that it does benefit the highest number of people? How do you decide how to distribute the benefits in the best possible way? I agree that it would be very hard to decide the best way to distribute the benefits equally. How would a person decide if you do it over time or all at once? Utilitarianism sounds like a good way to live, as there are times it is necessary to safe the individuals t...
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