It's the weekend! Which of the following activities would utilitarianism not recommend that you do? a. Volunteer at your local food bank. b. Donate your blood and one of your kidneys to strangers who need them. c. Evaluate a list of charities to see which would be the most effective to donate to. d. Take your family on a trip to the amusement park.

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Utilitarianism is an ethical theory that emphasizes actions which maximize overall happiness or utility for the greatest number of people. Let's evaluate each of the provided activities through a utilitarian lens:

a. **Volunteer at your local food bank.**
   - **Analysis:** Volunteering helps those in need, thereby increasing overall well-being and societal happiness.
   - **Utilitarian Perspective:** Recommended, as it maximizes utility.

b. **Donate your blood and one of your kidneys to strangers who need them.**
   - **Analysis:** Donating blood can save multiple lives with minimal personal risk. However, donating a kidney is a significant personal sacrifice that can have serious health implications.
   - **Utilitarian Perspective:** While donating blood aligns well with utilitarian principles, donating a kidney involves a substantial personal cost. If the act of donating a kidney leads to severe personal detriment, it might not maximize overall utility. However, if the life saved is significant, some utilitarians might still consider it justifiable.

c. **Evaluate a list of charities to see which would be the most effective to donate to.**
   - **Analysis:** This approach ensures that donations have the greatest possible positive impact, thereby maximizing utility.
   - **Utilitarian Perspective:** Highly recommended, as it optimizes the effectiveness of altruistic actions.

d. **Take your family on a trip to the amusement park.**
   - **Analysis:** This activity primarily benefits your family, providing them with joy and relaxation. However, its impact on broader societal utility is limited compared to the other options.
   - **Utilitarian Perspective:** While it increases the happiness of your immediate family, it doesn't significantly contribute to the overall well-being of a larger group. Therefore, from a strict utilitarian standpoint focusing on maximizing total utility, this activity is less favorable compared to actions that benefit a broader populace.

**Conclusion:** Among the options provided, taking your family on a trip to the amusement park (**option d**) would **not** be recommended by utilitarianism if the goal is to maximize overall utility, as its benefits are limited to a smaller group compared to the broader impact of the other activities.

**Answer:**  
d. Take your family on a trip to the amusement park.
Taking your family on a trip to the amusement park is not recommended by utilitarianism because it benefits only a small group, whereas other activities like volunteering or donating to effective charities have a greater positive impact on a larger number of people.

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