Utilitarianism

what theory is utilitarianism?

consequentialist

act utiliatarism

each situation we choose that action that maximises happiness. Bentham is genially regarded as the creator of act utilitarianism (hedonistic). Concerned with the consequences of pain and pleasure.

Felicific calculus

quantitative form of utilitarianism. Adding up all the happiness and subtracting all the pain.

Intensity - strong the pleasure is

Duration - how long the pleasure lasts

Certainty - how likely the pleasure is to occur

Propinquity - how soon the pleasure will occur

Fecundity - how likely the pleasure will lead to more pleasure

Purity - how likely a pleasure will lead to pain

Extent - the number of people affected

difficult to calculate

response to act utilitarianism. You are unable to predict the future, with the felicific calculus how do you quantify each of the 7 variables, and how would you compare them against each other.

Tyranny of the majority

some things seem inherently wrong regardless of the consequences however if It makes enough people happy, act utilitarianism would have to say its morally correct. Mob example

partially and the moral status of particular relationships

No single person’s happiness is worth more than anyone else’s. But then we can’t prioritise the happiness of certain people, like our friends and family. Utilitarianism is too idealistic and doesnt work in practice.

Ignore intentions

what makes an action right and wrong according to utilitarianism is whether it increases happiness. If someone intends to do evil but accidentally increases happiness then according to utilitarianism that would be seen as good.

Ignores integrity

Williams cricises utilitarianism on the grounds that it forces us to abandon any principles and personal integity in favour of utility. E.g. a captain has arrested 20 natives and is going to execute them protesting against the government but he says 19 of them go free if Jim kills one of them. Williams argues that a key aspect of moral life is maintaining integrity - pursuing projects for their own sake and upholding our values and principles.

Ignore preferences

nozicks experience machine. There are situations that we might prefer something even if it makes us less happy. The experience machine thought experiment illustrates the point: imagine you could get plugged into a virtual reality machine with a perfect life. Despite maximising happiness many people might not prefer to enter the experience machine, even if it means less happiness.

Mills proof

the only proof that something is desirable is that people desire it. Each person desires their own happiness. So happiness must be a good thing.

Higher and lower pleasures

mill rejects Bentham Felicific calculus and argues not all pleasures and pains are the same. Higher - thought, feeling and morality whereas lower - body and senses. Humans are more complicated than pigs and other animals

rule utilitarianism

focus on consequences of general rules rather than the consequences of specific actions. Follow general rules to maximise happiness. Follow them strongly or loosely?

Preference utilitarianism

Is non hedonistic form of utilitarianism. We should instead of maximising peoples happiness their preferences. Like carrying the wishes of the dead, as it doesnt increase the happiness of the deceased.