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Critics of utilitarianism have noted that an outcome-based theory of ethics seems in some ways unrealistic. A person may intend to do a great deal of good but end up doing a great deal of harm. Most ethical theories would state that this person had still acted ethically, because they had intended to do well. Utilitarianism would seem to require that such an act be labeled as unethical.
Furthermore, utilitarianism can lead to a downgrading of human rights. Stealing from one person and distributing the wealth to poor people may lead to a "greater good for a greater number," but most people would still not agree that stealing is ethical because it violates one person's right to his or her own property.
Another situation commonly proposed is one in which a murderer threatens to kill ten people, but will not kill any if one individual kills one. In utilitarian ethics, it seems that the one individual would be obligated to kill a person, because it would result overall in nine fewer deaths. But some would claim that murder is never acceptable.
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