In considering public policy about punishment,a utilitarian would argue that punishment is justified if ______.

A) the pain and suffering to those who are punished is outweighed by the benefits of punishment
B) those benefits cannot be achieved with less suffering
C) those benefits cannot be achieved at a lower cost to those who are being punished
D) all of these

A utilitarian would consider all three factors - the pain and suffering to those being punished, the benefits of punishment, and the cost of punishment - in determining whether punishment is justified. Punishment would only be considered justified if the benefits outweigh the costs and cannot be achieved with less suffering. Therefore, all three options (A, B, and C) are important considerations for a utilitarian in determining the justification of punishment.