The Utility Monster

The Utility Monster is a thought experiment in philosophy and economics that questions the fairness of maximizing overall happiness. Imagine a creature that gets an enormous amount of pleasure from resources, far more than typical individuals. If we focus solely on maximizing total pleasure, we might allocate resources to this "Utility Monster" at the expense of everyone else, leading to extreme inequality. This scenario challenges the idea that increasing overall happiness is always the best approach to social justice, highlighting potential moral dilemmas in utilitarianism and resource distribution.