How Does Society Achieve Happiness?

If you had all power over the laws of a society, which three laws would you enact to create a place of happiness?

Hedonism - Quote 1 “Nature has placed mankind under the governance of two sovereign masters, pain and pleasure.”

Hedonism Quote 2 Now, pleasure is in itself a good; nay, even setting aside immunity from pain, the only good: pain is in itself an evil; and, indeed, without exception, the only evil; or else the words good and evil have no meaning. And this is alike true of every sort of pain, and of every sort of pleasure. – Bentham, Principles of Morals and Legislation

Hedonism Quote 3 Every pleasure then because of its natural kinship to us is good,... even as every pain also is an evil......we maintain that pleasure is the end. – Epicurus, Letter to Menoeceus

Hedonism Hedonism is a school of thought that argues that pleasure is the only intrinsic good In very simple terms, a hedonist strives to maximize net pleasure (pleasure minus pain).

Utilitarianism Seek the greatest happiness for the greatest number

Bomb Threat Is it permissible to torture the terrorist for the information? Why or why not?

Basic Principles Utilitarianism was first formulated by Jeremy Bentham ( ). "The highest principle of morality is to maximize happiness, the overall balance of pleasure over pain... the right thing to do is whatever will maximize utility (whatever produces pleasure or happiness, and whatever prevents pain or suffering)" We all like pleasure and we all dislike pain. This is the basis of utilitarianism.

Numbers Game Bentham argued that in all decisions, the positive outcomes (that maximize happiness) should be weighed against the negative outcomes (that prevent or take away happiness). The right decision is the one that brings the most happiness.

Case Study The Mignonette, a small ship, sinks in a storm. Four English sailors are stranded at sea in a lifeboat. For three days, they eat small rations. On day four, they catch a turtle, which lasts a few days. Then they eat nothing for eight days. One of the men, actually a cabin boy, drank seawater against the advice of the others, and is slowly dying in the corner of the boat. Nineteen days after the Mignonette sunk, the captain suggests that one person should die so that the others live.

Do you agree? Pros (to killing the cabin boy) Cons (to killing the cabin boy)

Utilitarianism says… "the morality of an action depends solely on the consequences it brings about; the right thing to do is whatever will produce the best state of affairs, all things considered.”

But… What about a sense of wrong? This pro/con argument suggests that "morality consists in weighing costs and benefits" "Consequences are not all we should care about...certain duties and rights should command our respect, for reasons independent of the social consequences."

Objections to Utilitarianism 1. Individual Rights fails to respect each person's rights by paying attention only to the larger group's happiness.

Objections to Utilitarianism 2. A Common Currency of Value Not all values can be captured by a common currency of value. For instance, can you calculate the cost of human life?

Bomb Threat What if we changed the scenario from the terrorist to the terrorist's innocent daughter who has no knowledge of her father's acts. Would it still be okay? Is it really just about numbers?