My grandmother gives me $5 and tells me to go to the store to buy her some ice cream. She asks me to promise to get the ice cream, and I agree. Which action is supported by utilitarianism but intuitively seems unethical? Even though they have my grandmother’s favorite flavor at the grocery store, I buy a flavor that she doesn’t like as much. On the way to the store, I run into my friends who are going to see a movie; I decide to go with them and get the ice cream later. I’m not in the mood for ice cream, so I spend the money on cupcakes instead because I know my grandmother likes them, too. I see five homeless people on the way to the store and I break the promise to my grandmother to give each of them one of the dollars.
