Utilitarianism

Utilitarianism

An ethical theory that believes the best action is the one that maximizes overall happiness or utility.

Consequentialism

A type of ethical theory that judges the morality of an action based on its outcome.

Hedonism

The belief that pleasure or happiness is the highest good and proper aim of human life.

Types of Utilitarianism: Act Utilitarianism

Assesses each individual ACTION based on whether it maximizes happiness.

Types of Utilitarianism: Rule Utilitarianism

Evaluates the correctness of a RULE based on the happiness it produces when followed.

Greatest Happiness Principle

- Actions are right if they promote happiness

- Actions are wrong if they produce the opposite.

John Stuart Mill

- A philosopher

- His upbringing was influenced by Bentham's Utilitarianism

Bentham's Hedonic Calculus

Calculates the utility of actions based on factors.

Types of Utilitarianism: Preference Utilitarianism

Suggests ACTIONS should be evaluated based on the PREFERENCES of those affected.

Impartiality

Everyone's happiness counts equally in the calculation of utility.

Utility

A measure of the happiness derived from an action/outcome.

Moral Calculus

Generally weighing up the positive and negative consequences of actions to determine their moral worth.

Types of Utilitarianism

- Act Utilitarianism

- Rule Utilitarianism

- Preference Utilitarianism

What was John Stuart Mill known for?

- Refining utilitarianism

- Emphasising qualitative differences in pleasures.

Hedonic Calculus factors

- Intensity

- Duration

- Certainty

- Propinquity

- Fecundity

- Purity

- Extent

Intensity

How strong is the pleasure/pain?

Duration

How long will the pleasure last?

Certainty

How likely is the pleasure to happen?

Propinquity (definition)

Remoteness

Propinquity

How soon will the pleasure occur?

Fecundity (definition)

The ability to reproduce something.

Fecundity

Will it lead to more pleasures?

Purity

Will it lead to pain, or is it free from negative consequences?

Extent

How many people will be affected?

Types of Utilitarian Calculus

- Hedonic Calculus

- Moral Calculus

Example of a Preference Utilitarian

Peter Singer

Quality of Pleasure: Bentham's view

All pleasures have equal quality.

Quality of Pleasure: Bentham quote

"Pushpin is as good as poetry"

Quality of Pleasure: Mill's view

There are "higher and lower" pleasures.

How are higher and lower pleasures established?

Assessing if almost everyone who is "completely acquainted" with both pleasures prefers one over another.

Quality of Pleasure: Mill quote

"Better to be Socrates satisfied than a fool dissatisfied."

Who promoted Act Utilitarianism?

Bentham

Who promoted Rule Utilitarianism?

Mill