Utilitarianism

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Utilitarianism

The ethical idea that we should always seek to achieve greatest balance of good over evil

'Greatest good for greatest number'

Bentham: Utility & Hedonic Calculus

Bentham on Human Nature

Bentham suggests pain and pleasure are our masters

We seek pleasure and avoid pain

God didn't make us and we're not driven by our logical reason

Bentham on Utility

Utility - idea of 'usefulness' that we should do whatever is useful in increasing overall good and decreasing overall evil

Idea of utility is actions should be carried out if produce more happiness, pleasure or goodness and likely to present pain

He argues 'greatest good for greatest number ' is mature of right and wrong

Hedonic Calculus

It's a system for working out amount of pleasure or pain involved in a course of action

We're motivated by pleasure and pain that only moral principle is we should do whatever is useful to achieve this end

Intensity - how strong is pleasure or pain?

Duration - how long will pleasure or pain last?

Certainty - how likely is that pleasure or pain will actually occur?

how soon will pleasure or pain occur?

how likely is it that the pleasure will lead to further pleasures?

Purity - how likely is it that pain will come from original pleasure?

Extent - How many people will be affected?

Mill's Utilitarianism

Possible Weaknesses in Bentham's Version

Focus on pleasure is too narrow - there's more too life than food, sex and parties

ends to appalling consequences - theoretically Bentham's version could justify gang rape

Hedonic calculus can be too complex if it's got to be applied in each situation - not quick to get decisions

Higher & Lower Pleasures

Mill supports utility principle but rejects Bentham's hedonic calculus

For Mill quality of pleasure more important than quantity

For Mill, higher pleasures are intellectual and social, as human beings we're able to experience

Lower pleasures - food, sex and sleep - are pleasures but aren't important

Argues all competent judges given choice between 2 would prefer higher pleasures

Eudaimonia - flourishing and living well, ultimate and all actions should lead towards

Act & Rule Utilitarianism

Act Utilitarianism

Idea that we should always perform act that leads to greatest balance of good over evil

Takes situations on case-by-case basis

May give different answers to an issue due to different contexts

Allows flexibility to situation but takes considerable time to weigh up all complex factors in each situation

Rule Utilitarianism

Idea that we should always follow rule that generally leads to greatest balance of good over evil

Has common good of society rather than individuals as its starting point

In allowing freedom for individuals to live as they wish, we're allowing individuals to experiment with different ways of living

May lead to discoveries of better approaches to life and better rules

We may discover homosexuality isn't harmful and change our rules accordingly

It's quicker in terms of decision-making to apply rule than attempt to weigh up all factors involved in each case

Applying Utilitarianism

Trolley problems - Utilitarianism entirely concerned with outcome. It's a teleological theory. Action itself not judged and less important

lying billionaire - It's demanding. Requires you setting aside personal happiness in getting what you want

Executing innocent - Utilitarians don't put much weight on concepts such as justice and rights unless outcome requires it

Sexuality - It's progressive and modern in its approach

Euthanasia - Utilitarianism favours quality of life over sanity of life

Business Ethics - Has an instrumental approach to actions. Things aren't good in themselves but only in regard to how they help greater good to be achieved

Assessing Utilitarianism

Key strengths of utilitarianism

Impartiality - requires we're objective and don't resolve ethical dilemmas by resorting to personal biases

Secular - doesn't resort to religion to justify how we should act

Maximising happiness is good aim - strange to argue we shouldn't value happiness or set out to do things that cause more overall unhappiness

Straightforward theory - isn't difficult to understand or apply. Offers decision procedure that enables moral dilemmas to be solved

Progressive - has progressive morality that enables out of date ideas to be challenged. Singer continues to stand up for poor and campaign for animal rights

Democratic - everyone's happiness taken into account and each person counts as one in decision making. No favourites or special exemptions

Criticisms of Utilitarianism

Not clear how to measure pleasure and pain

Requires prediction of future. Need to predict future consequences to establish what greater good is

Each person regarded equally but may be problem for minority groups

Pleasure and happiness are ultimate good. Obedience to God's commands is ultimate good in some world views

Pleasure and pain may be dependent on individual. May have different views on what to leads to happiness

Going Further: Singer and Preference Utilitarianism

Attempts to address one of key issues with classical utilitarianism of Bentham and Mill

Argues people should be allowed to pursue their preferences as long as it doesn't interfere with anyone else's pursue of happiness

Morally good thing to do is which maximises satisfaction of preferences of most people

Preference approach focuses on minimising suffering and harm rather than increasing pleasure