Utilitarianism

Summary of the theory

Classical forms of Utilitarianism are focused on the Principle of Utility, which states we should do the greatest good for the greatest number of people. It is a pleasure based theory of ethics and places hedonism at its centre. There are two main forms of classical Utilitarianism; Act and Rule

What are the 3 key features of all util theories

• Consequentialist

• Hedonistic

• A posteriori

What is the principle of utility?

• greatest amount of good for the greatest number

• course of action that benefits the most people

• recognising everyone’s happiness has equal worth

What did Jeremy Bentham believe about human motivations?

wanted to create a moral theory based on: social reform, justice for the masses

• motivated by pleasure and pain

• sometimes called ‘hedonic util’

• pleasure = sole good, pain = sole evil

• good action maximises pleasure and minimises pain

What is the Hedonic Calculus and what are some criticisms of it?

• key part of Bentham’s theory, makes it quantative

• formula for measuring how ‘good’ something is

• emphasis on maximisation of pleasure

Main differences between Act and Rule Util

• happiness over pleasure

• quality over quantity

• higher and lower (‘worthy only of swine’) pleasures

• rejected hedonic calculus

What is Rule Util and what are its two forms?

• everyone should follow general rules - will generally experience pleasure

STRONG RULE UTIL - rules are universal, should always be kept

WEAK RULE UTIL - rules can be broken situationally

Quantative vs qualitative

• Act - Hedonic calculus determines quantity of pleasure

• Rule - focuses on quality of pleasure, distinguishes between higher and lower

Flexibility

• Act - each situation judged on its own merit

• Rule - Strong — very rigid, rules cannot be broken
  Weak — more flexible; rules can be broken

What is the main approach of act util regarding moral autonomy?

• allows for personal autonomy

• each individual judges morality of situation based on immediate situation

How does Rule Util view individual decision-making?

• everyone should follow the same rules

• should be taught and based on collective experience

Long-term consequences

• Act - struggles with predicting long-term outcomes — never know for sure if an action will lead to greatest good

• Rule - relies on past experience — rules developed from historical knowledge

Act - Strengths

• common sense involved - accessible to everyone

• everyone’s happiness of equal worth

• clear, mathematical method of deciding any action

• assesses individual situations, produces unique answer

Act - weaknesses

• hedonic calculus is time consuming and impractical

• long-term consequences unpredictable

• potential to justify virtually anything, including suffering

Rule - strengths

• establishes common good through rules set

• evidence-based/democratically considered to benefit most people

• no calculations needed, clear and easy to follow

Rule - weaknesses

• lacks personal autonomy

• too general, do not explain what to do when conflict

• WRU - what is the point of rules in the first place?

• justice = some harm to minority

• too impersonal

CRITICS??!!