Pragmatist tradition and Michael J. Sandel's critique of pragmatism

The main motivation for human behavior is usually the idea of utility. By nature, human beings try to survive biologically, to increase their current level of well being and to be happy. For this reason, he takes actions that will benefit him and avoids those that will harm him. If people keep their utility demands moderate, there will be no problem. However, turning this into a fetish and instrumentalizing, exploiting and colonizing other things for people's own benefit in this process brings along discussions and conflicts. For this reason, the theory of utilitarianism has been the subject of many discussions and theories throughout history. Many thinkers such as Democritus, Aristippos and Epicurus in the Ancient Greek Period, John Locke, Thomas Hobbes, David Hume, Immanuel Kant, Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill in the New and Recent Ages, and today Michael J. Sandel discussed the concept of utility, and in the development of the utilitarian theory. They contributed both with their theses and their anti-thesis. The issues that need to be repaired, such as the fact that actions taken for benefit can harm other people, neglecting individual rights and freedoms, and ignoring moral norms have been the focus of discussions. In this study, firstly, the emergence of the utilitarian theory in the Ancient Greek period will be examined and in this context, the evolutions it has undergone in different periods until today will be mentioned. Then, the criticisms directed to the Utilitarian Theory will be reviewed and finally Michael J. Sandel's views and criticisms will be examined.