What are the main problems with Bentham’s Utilitarianism? 1

Here’s a list of pleasures. List them in descending order of enjoyableness? Eating an ice cream Eating an ice cream Eating oysters Eating oysters Listening to Britney Spears Listening to Britney Spears Listening to Mozart Listening to Mozart Going round an art gallery Going round an art gallery Watching Neighbours Watching Neighbours Reading a novel or poetry Reading a novel or poetry Running a race Running a race Playing Rugby Playing Rugby Watching Rugby Watching Rugby Doing a favour for a friend Doing a favour for a friend 2

3 John Stuart Mill 1806 – 1873

Name: John Stuart Mill D.O.B: 20 th May 1806 Occupation: English Philosopher, Political theorist, Political economist and Member of Parliament Likes: Long walks on the beach and lengthy discussions about morality. Dislikes: Strong spirits, fast food restaurants, trashy magazines and package holidays. Relationship status: Single

What Mill disliked about Bentham’s view: What Mill disliked about Bentham’s view: It failed to differentiate us from animals. It failed to differentiate us from animals. It failed to account for the fact that we think of some pleasures (achieving an A grade) superior to others (playing computer games). It failed to account for the fact that we think of some pleasures (achieving an A grade) superior to others (playing computer games). It made NO qualitative distinction. It made NO qualitative distinction.

Mill wanted to argue that some pleasures were “higher” “It is better to be Socrates dissatisfied than a fool satisfied” (Mill p 260)

Problems Can pleasure be calculated? Can pleasure be calculated? Are different pleasures commensurable? Are different pleasures commensurable? In the same person In the same person Between persons? Between persons? Are all pleasures ‘equal’ – Are all pleasures ‘equal’ – Yes, says Bentham Yes, says Bentham No, says Mill No, says Mill

John Stuart Mill Bentham’s Godson Bentham’s Godson  Mill believed that quality was more important than quantity when it came to pleasure.  For example, the pleasures of the mind are far superior to the gratification of the body’s desires. This deals with the problem of sadistic torturers, as their pleasure is of a significantly lower kind.  For example, the pleasures of the mind are far superior to the gratification of the body’s desires. This deals with the problem of sadistic torturers, as their pleasure is of a significantly lower kind.

So here’s the story… One day, as John was surfing the internet, researching moral issues, he came across a match.com ad. This enticed him as he saw a picture alongside the popup of a dashing young woman. She called herself Linda. After they began to chat furiously over several moral issues, Linda interrupted John, suggesting they meet over dinner. John contemplated the moral consequences of this action for a moment, and quickly agreed. As long as it was fine dining it was sure to be okay!

I believe that an act is right or wrong based on the principle of utility. However, I think that ‘the greatest good’ can be worked out through the definitions of higher and lower pleasures. On the date…

So what we’re doing now, is it a higher or lower pleasure? A higher pleasure. Because not only are we developing our own unique human ability by developing our friendship (wink wink), we are also enjoying and appreciating fine food and drink which was created like a piece of artwork. Later on…

Even later on… And now? Lower pleasure.

Mill Quote “Better to be a human being dissatisfied than a pig satisfied… better to be Socrates dissatisfied than a fool satisfied”

Act and Rule Utilitarianism Act utilitarianism Looks at the consequences of each individual act and calculates utility each time the act is performed Rule utilitarianism Looks at the consequences of having everyone follow a particular rule and calculates the overall utility of accepting or rejecting the rule

An Example

For rule utilitarians, this is an easy choice. No one could approve a general rule that lets hospitals kill patients for their organs when they are going to die anyway. The consequences of adopting such a general rule would be highly negative and would certainly undermine public trust in the medical establishment. For act utilitarians, the situation is more complex. If secrecy were guaranteed, the overall consequences might be such that in this particular instance greater utility is produced by hastening the death of the homeless person and using his organs for the transplant.

Rule utilitarians claim:  In particular cases, act utilitarianism can justify disobeying important moral rules and violating individual rights.  Act utilitarianism also takes too much time to calculate in each and every case. Act utilitarians respond:  Following a rule in a particular case when the overall utility demands that we violate the rule is just rule-worship. If the consequences demand it, we should violate the rule. The Continuing Dispute

18 So, in general, it can be said that Bentham was an ACT Utilitarian and Mill was a RULE Utilitarian. G&T There are some that would argue that Mill was also an Act Utilitarian in some ways. If you want to, you can research this idea.

Was Mill just a snob???????

Mill argued that the lower pleasures were of the mind, and the higher of the body. He felt that, after the lower bodily needs were met we could attend to the higher spiritual, moral, cultural pleasures. (Who decides?) He felt that, after the lower bodily needs were met we could attend to the higher spiritual, moral, cultural pleasures. (Who decides?)

Vardy and Grosch comment: “On this view, a person who eats and drinks in moderation in order to design elegant, ecologically – sound clothing is morally superior to the person who is anxious to produce quick, profit-making designs in order to pursue the pleasures of sex, food and drink” (1994:79) “On this view, a person who eats and drinks in moderation in order to design elegant, ecologically – sound clothing is morally superior to the person who is anxious to produce quick, profit-making designs in order to pursue the pleasures of sex, food and drink” (1994:79)

W.D. Ross argued that this produces counter-intuitive outcomes Example: who do we save in the burning bus, our son or a famous heart surgeon who has potential to save thousands? Example: who do we save in the burning bus, our son or a famous heart surgeon who has potential to save thousands?

Summary - Bentham Bentham’s hedonistic utilitarianism is unworkable Selfish Counter-intuitive (happiness is not the same as pleasure)

Summary: Mill Mill’s is Mill’s is Snobbish (why isn’t my rap music as good as your Mozart?) Snobbish (why isn’t my rap music as good as your Mozart?) Counter-intuitive (duty and love contradict it) Counter-intuitive (duty and love contradict it)

Case Study 1

“’I killed one man to save 100,000’ Charlotte Corday David’s The death of Marat

Her final words She was caught and guillotined. When asked whether she had anything to say she replied: She was caught and guillotined. When asked whether she had anything to say she replied: “Yes. I succeeded!” “Yes. I succeeded!”

Case Study 2 Lawrence Oates

During an expedition to the South Pole in Caught in a blizzard for a week without enough food, Lawrence walks out into the storm: “I may be gone some considerable time,” he says, (and was). During an expedition to the South Pole in Caught in a blizzard for a week without enough food, Lawrence walks out into the storm: “I may be gone some considerable time,” he says, (and was).