What is your initial reaction to the utilitarian system of moral reasoning and its tendency to put the happiness of the majority over the rights of the individual? This form of reasoning is actually used quite often in our society especially in government, and business decisions. What are some strengths of this system and some weaknesses that you perceive? Jeremy Bentham (the founder of utilitarianism) called the idea of human rights “Nonsense on stilts”. The founders of the United States created our Bill of Rights; what does this have to do with utilitarian decision making in government? What are some examples of when the Bill of Rights have been used in our history to protect us from the worst excesses of utilitarian thinking?