Utilitarianism

Utilitarianism

Focuses on actions and consequences rather than intentions

Utilitarianism

States that we should act in a way that will benefit the largest number of people

Utilitarianism

Demands that individuals put aside their own desires and ambitions and do what will benefit society as a whole

Utilitarianism

It is the greatest happiness of the greatest number that is the measure of right and wrong

Result, consequence

Utilitarianism says that the ___ or the ___ of an Act is the real measure of whether it is good or bad.

Ends over means

This theory emphasizes ___

Teleological, consequentialist

Theories, like this one, that emphasize the results or consequences are called ___ or ___

Consequentialism, hedonism, maximalism, universalism

Four theses of utilitarianism:

Consequentialism

The rightness of actions is determined solely by their consequences.

Hedonism, act produces pleasure

Utility is the degree to which an ___, ___ is the thesis that pleasure or happiness is the good that we seek and that we should seek.

Maximalism

A right action produces the greatest good consequences and the least bad.

Universalism

The consequences to be considered are those of everyone affected, and everyone equally.

Principle of Utility, greatest happiness

Two formulations of utilitarian theory:

Principle of utility

The best action is that which produces the greatest happiness and/or reduces pain

Greatest Happiness

We ought to do that which produces the greatest happiness and least pain for the greatest number of people

Act, rule

Two types of utilitarianism

Act

An action is right if and only if it produces the greatest balance of pleasure over pain for the greatest number.

Jeremy Bentham

Act

Rule

An action is right if and only if it conforms to a set of rules the general acceptance of which would produce the greatest balance of pleasure over pain for the greatest number.  

John Stuart Mill

Rule

Act, rule utilitarianism

They both agree that the goal of ethics is to maximize happiness. But they disagree on where that decision should be applied

Act utilitarianism

Argues that we should always choose our actions based on what will cause the greatest amount of happiness.

Rule utilitarianism

Argues that we should figure out what sort of behavior usually causes happiness, and turn it into a set of rules.

Act utilitarians

Apply the utilitarian principle directly to the evaluation of individual actions

Rule utilitarians

Apply the utilitarian principle directly to the evaluation of rules and then evaluate individual actions by seeing if they obey or disobey those rules whose acceptance will produce the most utility

Act utilitarianism

Jeremy Bentham’s utilitarianism

Jeremy Bentham’s utilitarianism

Right actions result in ‘good or pleasure,’ wrong actions result in pain or absence of pleasure. Hedonic Calculus

Jeremy Bentham’s utilitarianism

Max pleasure/min suffering morality criticized as “pig-philosophy” 

Pain, pleasure

Man is under two great masters, ___ and ___

Hedonistic perspective

The great good that we should seek is happiness

Utility

Those actions whose results increase happiness or diminish pain are good, they have ___.

Pain, pleasure

___ and ___ dictate how people think they should behave, and, more importantly, how they actually do behave

Bentham, pleasure, pain

According to ___ (and behavioral psychologists) people will act in a manner that increases the likelihood of ___ and reduces the likelihood of ___ as the result of their action(s)

Bentham’s Hedonistic Calculus

In determining the quantity of happiness that might be produced by an action, we evaluate the possible consequences by applying several values: Intensity, duration, certainty or uncertainty, propinquity or remoteness, fecundity (ability to reproduce), purity, and extent.

Fecundity

Productiveness, the chance pleasure or pain has to be followed by the same

Purity

The chance pleasure or pain has to not be followed by the opposite

Pleasure, pain-avoidance

Bentham thought that people are motivated by ___ and ___

Increased

Bentham thought that the amount of pleasure in the world should be ___

Laws

Bentham thought that ___ should increase the amount of pleasure in the community and not increase the amount of pain

Punishment

Bentham thought that ___ should only be used when it was absolutely necessary and should be proportional to the offense

Jeremy Bentham

He did not believe in groundless, needless, ineffectual, or expensive punishment 

John Stuart Mill

Born 1806, son of philosopher James Mill, learned Greek and Latin as a child, administrator in East India Company, member of Parliament, died 1873

Mill’s utilitarianism

We can judge the moral value of actions by the degree of happiness they tend to produce

Pleasure is the only intrinsic value

Argument for using greatest happiness principle for moral judgments is that everything else is valuable only as a means to pleasure.

Consequences matter most

Argument for using greatest happiness principle for moral judgments is that the moral worth of an action depends on its impact on happiness.

General happiness is the goal

Argument for using greatest happiness principle for moral judgments is that not just individual satisfaction, but the collective well-being.

Greatest Happiness principlw

Actions are morally right in proportion as they promote happiness, and wrong as they produce the reverse of happiness.

Happiness

In the context of moral judgment, ___ is defined as pleasure and the absence of pain.

Greatest Happiness principle

Evaluates actions based on their consequences specifically, how much happiness or unhappiness they produce.

Impartiality

GHP emphasizes ___: everyone's happiness counts equally.

Ethical evaluation

GHP serves as a standard for ___, guiding us to choose actions that maximize overall well-being.

John Stuart Mill

He’s saying we should assess the morality of actions by how well they contribute to the greatest amount of happiness for the greatest number of people.

Intellectual, sensual

Mill distinguishes between different kinds of pleasures ___ and ___

Mill’s Utilitarianism

A more sophisticated form of Utilitarianism.

Mill’s Utilitarianism

Concerned with quality of pleasure and quantity of people who enjoy it.

Mill’s Utilitarianism

Recognized higher and lower types of human pleasure.

Lower pleasures

Eating, drinking, sexuality, etc.

Higher pleasures

Intellectuality, creativity and spirituality.

Subordinate principles

We can use ___ from the fundamental principle (GHP) Base these on experience of which kinds of actions tend to promote more/less pleasure and  pain.

Quality, quantity

Mill argues that we must consider the ___ of the happiness, not merely the ___

Quality

The ___ of happiness is greater with the latter.

Mill’s quality arguments

It is better to be a human being dissatisfied than a pig satisfied; better to be Socrates dissatisfied than a fool satisfied. And if the fool, or the pig, are of a different opinion, it is because they only know their own side of the question. The other party to the comparison knows both sides

Higher pleasures

Those of the intellect, morality, and imagination are inherently more valuable than lower, bodily pleasures like eating or physical comfort.

Judge

A person who has experienced both types of pleasure (like Socrates) is better equipped to ___ which is more fulfilling.

Limited

The fool or pig may be content, but their judgment is ___, they’ve only known one kind of pleasure

Classic form, consequences

Utilitarianism, especially in its ___, judges the morality of an action based on its ___ the greatest happiness for the greatest number

Destructive pleasure

A wise utilitarian wouldn't promote an action that fuels ___

Utilitarian

Promote harm reduction support programs that provide education, mental health care, or rehabilitation.

Utilitarian

Create alternative sources of happiness community engagement, skills training, spiritual support, or even arts and education.

Utilitarian

Advocate for systemic change policies that address the roots of substance abuse, not just its symptoms.

Bentham’s View

If a law increases happiness overall - even if a few people suffer - it’s justified.

Mill’s View

The law must also protect individual rights and promote higher pleasures, like education and freedom.

Bentham’s View

Focus on what brings quick, measurable results in learning.

Mill’s View

Focus on developing the mind and character, even if it's harder.

Bentham’s View

Help in ways that bring the most immediate relief (e.g., giving food to the hungry).

Mill’s View

Help in ways that lead to long-term improvement (e.g., giving education and skills).

Bentham’s View

If a post gets lots of likes and entertains people, it’s “good.”

Mill’s View

Ask whether it helps people grow, reflect, or connect meaningfully not just entertain.

Bentham’s View

Choose treatment that helps the most people quickly, even if some suffer.

Mill’s View

Also consider human dignity and the quality of life of the patient.

Act Utilitarianism

By Jeremy Bentham, quantity of pleasure, all pleasures are equal in value

Act Utilitarianism

Based on each individual act’s consequences, central tool for measuring pleasure/pain

Rule Utilitarianism

By John Stuart Mill, quality of pleasure, intellectual and moral pleasures are superior

Rule Utilitarianism

Based on rules that generally promote happiness, accepted but refined with qualitative distinctions