Whenever I say this, the first thing many people respond with, is whether this assertion is absolute. For example, does a
dictator or mass murderer have equal worth to the humans that they
inflict suffering upon?
A utilitarian might say that the sum total of the welfare of all the
individuals that are being oppressed is greater than the welfare of the
single individual that is doing the oppressing.
Peter Singer extrapolates this with some hypothetical situations: http://www.utilitarian.net/singer/by/200703--.htm.
I think this kind of thought process is only useful when compassion lies at the base of its
application. In the end, everyone must decide the correct
action or inaction in every situation, case by case, for themselves.
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