Utilitarianism

Types of Theory

Types of Theory Teleological The consequence of the moral act is the important thing

Types of Theory Teleological Deontological The consequence of the moral act is the important thing Deontological Rightness is determined by some moral value in the act itself

Original Utilitarianism Bentham Nature has placed mankind under the governance of two sovereign masters, pain and pleasure. It is for them alone to point out what we ought to do, as well as to determine what we shall do.

Original Utilitarianism John Stuart Mill The only evidence we have, says Mill, that something is intrinsically desirable, is that we observe that people desire it just for itself.

Original Utilitarianism Utilitarian Thesis What is good is what conduces to the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people.

Original Utilitarianism Utilitarian Thesis What is good is what conduces to the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people. Utilitarian Principle Act so as to produce the greatest happiness for the greatest number.

Original Utilitarianism Nietzsche Man does not strive after happiness; only the Englishman does that.

Some Problems The Assumption of Sufficient Knowledge It assumes that the moral actor has the capacity to know what the outcomes of any action are going to be.

Some Problems Practicality For example: how far into the future do these considerations have to be extended.

Some Problems Justice Utilitarian reasoning would conflict with some of our deepest intuitions about what is just

Some Problems Dostoevsky Would you torture to death an innocent child if by doing so you would secure happiness for the rest of mankind?

Refined Utilitarianism Act-Utilitarian Thesis An act is right if and only if it results in as much good as any available alternative.

Refined Utilitarianism Act-Utilitarian Thesis An act is right if and only if it results in as much good as any available alternative. Rule-Utilitarian Thesis An act is right if and only if it is the consequence of following a rule that, with other rules, if followed would lead to as much happiness as any other rules .

Some More Problems

Some More Problems The ‘Pig Philosophy’

Some More Problems The ‘Pig Philosophy’ Why not plug into a happiness machine?

Some More Problems The ‘Pig Philosophy’ Why not plug into a happiness machine? Is it better to be Socrates dissatisfied than a pig satisfied?

Some More Problems Fairness

Some More Problems Fairness It doesn’t seem to matter how the happiness is distributed

Some More Problems Fairness It doesn’t seem to matter how the happiness is distributed A B C D Option 1 Option 2 Option 3

Some More Problems Fairness It doesn’t seem to matter how the happiness is distributed A B C D Option 1 1 Option 2 Option 3

Some More Problems Fairness It doesn’t seem to matter how the happiness is distributed A B C D Option 1 1 Option 2 -2 2 Option 3

Some More Problems Fairness It doesn’t seem to matter how the happiness is distributed A B C D Option 1 1 Option 2 -2 2 Option 3 -1 7

Some More Problems Lifestyle

Some More Problems Lifestyle

Some More Problems Lifestyle or

Some Responses Mill distinguishes between types of pleasures Those who have sampled both know that the higher are more pleasurable Life … [is] not a life of rapture; but moments of such, in an existence made up of few and transitory pains, many and various pleasure, with a decided predominance of the active over the passive, and having as the foundation of the whole, not to expect more from life than it is capable of bestowing