Being trapped with unfortunate circumstances with a group of people, we as human beings are obliged to act unselfishly for the greatest overall good consequences of everyone. Utilitarianism is the most applicable ethical theory when stranded on a desert island with a group of people. This theory is basically aiming to act according to the greatest good for the greatest number of people.
Moreover, the moral worth of an action is determined by its outcome or consequence.In order to achieve this, one must set aside his own standards and principles if it will not benefit the greatest number of people. The rule of survival should be applicable to everyone or at least to the majority. Basically, being stranded in an island the need for physical survival is what the people need most.
The actions and ethics of those participants should conform to that need. The intentions and motivations in looking for food and other activities that will satisfy the needs of the body, seeking for rescue and other ways to survive should profit everyone.Every human being put into this situation has same needs and so it is not hard to follow the ethical theory of utilitarianism. The basic need to eat, to drink, to be clothe and protected by the wild animals and hazardous whether tend to produce pleasure or of that satisfies the senses. All the participants’ basic needs are apparently pleasurable. The Greatest Happiness Principle or Utility by John Stuart Mill applied in this situation suggests that “actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness.
By happiness are intended pleasure, and the absence of pain; by unhappiness, pain and the privation of pleasure” (Mill 1963). The decision of experiencing something is only becomes desirable when it promotes pleasure and eventually leads to a higher level of happiness. Though the definition of pleasure according to Mill depends on one’s own standard but being stranded in an island, pleasure should delights and satisfies the sense since physical survival is the main objective to get out on that situation.
