“One death, and a thousand lives in exchange--it’s simple arithmetic.” -Raskolnikov Raskolnikov’s mathematical evaluation of the moral dilemma presented to him in Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment exemplifies the empirical view of utilitarianism. Utilitarianism attempts to distinguish between right and wrong by measuring a decision based on its calculated worth. Raskolnikov appears to employ the fundamentals of utilitarianism by pitting the negative consequences of murdering his old landlady against the positive benefits that …showed first 75 words of 1684 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1684 total…no set standards to deem certain acts wrong. Raskolnikov demonstrates the mathematical objectivity of utilitarianism, although he miscalculates somewhat in his justification of murder. In such a calculated manner, personal pain and suffering are dismissed in lieu of the emphasis placed on monetary value. So while utilitarian would describe his formula as "the greatest good for the greatest number", a non-utilitarian would characterize it as "the happiness of many overshadowing the happiness of the individual".