Utilitarianism

Utilitarianism

1. History

   • 18th century
   • Metaphysical to empirical
   • Industrial revolution
   • Age of enlightenment
   • Huge social divide between the rich and poor
     • "The rich man in his castle, The poor man at his gate, God made them high and lowly, And ordered their estate" - All Things Bright and Beautiful
   • Religious to secular

2. Nature

   • Consequential
   • Teleological
     • "This neighbour will have to answer for the consequences of his terrible deed"
   • Subjective
   • Actions have only instrumental value

3. Rule utility

   • J.S Mill
     • Bentham's comfortable life means he can't judge what is important to humans
       • Bentham made an error assessing what humans desire
         • ""humans are not governed in all their actions by their worldly interests"
     • Humans should meet their full potential
       • It is better to be a man dissatisfied than a pig satisfied. Few humans would consent to be changed into any of the lower animals for a promise of the beast's fullest pleasure"
     • Happiness can't be quantified
   • Good = happiness
     • Higher and lower pleasures
       • "competently acquainted"
   • Rules if followed would lead to the greatest happiness
     • Strong rule
       • More deontological
         • Rules have instrumental value
     • Weak rule
       • More teleological
         • Better to allow for exceptions

4. Act utility

   • Jeremy Bentham
   • Joseph Priestley "the greatest good for the greatest number"
   • Met the needs of the working class
   • Reforms
     • Abolition of slavery
     • Reform Bill & Factory Acts concerning hours and conditions in the industry
     • Postal system
   • Good = pleasure
     • 2 sovereign masters, pleasure and pain
   • "Utilitarianism..a standard for judging public action" Robert E Goodwin
   • Rejection of a God ordained state
   • Hedonic calculus
     • Intensity, Duration,Certainty,Propinquity,Fecundity, Purity, Extent
     • I don't care properly for philosophy & ethics
     • How deep it is, how long it lasts, how sure it is, how close it is, how fruitful it is, how free from pain & how far the effects stretch
     • Ski trip woman - Peter Vardy

5. Modern developments

   • Harm principle
     • People can act how they want as long as it doesn't cause pain to others
       • You have freedom of speech, but don't use the speech to hurt someone
     • J.S Mill
   • Preference utility
     • Doing what the individual prefers to do
       • "Joan of Arc..was experiencing pain for the sake of something she valued more highly than pleasure" - Horner & Westacott
     • R.M Hare
     • Peter Singer wanted to minimise suffering and felt minorities were important
   • Negative utility
     • Promoting the least amount of harm and pain
       • Destroying the world is plausible for avoiding a pinprick
     • Karl Popper

6. Strengths

   • Pleasure can be calculated to choose the best option
   • Helps the greatest number of people
   • Flexibility allows for every situation
   • Its developed to suit each era
   • Agrees that harm is intrinsically wrong
   • People intend to do what's best
   • Doesn't need to rely on religion
   • Anyone can use it
   • Its democratic as it balances everyone's interests
   • Is universal so can be used in any culture

7. Weaknesses

   • Utility requires an impersonal view, this can't be achieved with prima facie relationships
   • Hedonic calculus isn't practical, it takes too long
   • Pleasure cannot be quantified
   • Flexibility allows for a margin of evil
   • Minority are exploited
   • Pygmalion was a play about educating a flower girl to experience higher pleasures, not optimistic
   • The future can't be predicted so its unpredictable
   • Knowing you can predict the greater good doesn't mean you will eg money to developing countries
   • It's subjective to people's pleasure and preference
   • Majority tyranny can stop good things eg homosexuality