Bioethics - Utilitarianism

Utilitarianism

A consequentialist ethical theory that judges actions by their outcomes, aiming to maximize happiness and minimize suffering.

Utilitarianism Philosophers

Jeremy Bentham (1748–1832) and John Stuart Mill (1806–1873).

Principle of Utility

Actions are right when they promote the greatest happiness and least harm for the greatest number of people.

Happiness and Unhappiness

Happiness is pleasure and the absence of pain; unhappiness is pain and the absence of pleasure.

Consequence vs intentions

Because an action's morality depends on the good or harm it produces, not simply the intentions or duties behind it.

Trolley problem

Choosing whether to divert a trolley to kill one person instead of five. It illustrates the conflict between maximizing good outcomes and avoiding harm to individuals.

Organ-Transplant thought experiment

Whether killing one healthy patient to save five patients needing organs is morally permissible. It tests the limits of consequence-based reasoning.

Hedonistic utilitarianism

The view that pleasure or happiness is the good we should maximize and pain is what we should minimize.

Bentham’s quantitative approach to pleasure

Pleasures can be measured and compared by their amount, rather than by whether they are intellectually or physically superior.

Bentham’s Hedonistic Calculus

A method for evaluating actions by measuring their expected pleasure and pain using seven criteria.

The seven criteria of Benthams Hedonistic Calculus

Intensity, duration, certainty, propinquity, fecundity, purity, and extent.

Intensity, duration and certainty

Intensity = strength of pleasure; duration = how long it lasts; certainty = likelihood it will occur.

Propinquity and fecundity

Propinquity = how soon pleasure occurs; fecundity = likelihood that pleasure will produce further pleasures.

Purity and Extent

Purity = likelihood pleasure will not be followed by pain; extent = number of people affected.

Problems with Benthams approach

Pleasure is difficult to quantify, consequences are hard to predict, and pleasure alone may be too shallow a measure of morality.

Mills vs Benthams

Bentham emphasizes the quantity of pleasure, while Mill argues that some pleasures are higher in quality than others.

Higher and lower pleasures

Higher pleasures are intellectual; lower pleasures are primarily physical or bodily.

“Better to be a Socrates dissatisfied than a fool satisfied”

Intellectual pleasures are more valuable than physical satisfaction, even when they involve dissatisfaction.

Individual vs society’s happiness

Individual happiness should be in harmony with the greater happiness of society.

Utilitarianism view on self-sacrifice and impartiality

Sacrifice is valuable only if it increases overall happiness; everyone's happiness must be considered impartially.

Act Utilitarianism

Evaluating each individual action by whether it produces the greatest overall happiness. Most associated with Bentham.

Rule Utilitarianism

Following general rules whose widespread adoption produces the greatest overall happiness. Most associated with Mill.

Dying patient problem (act vs rule)

Act utilitarianism might permit it if overall utility increases; rule utilitarianism rejects a general rule allowing it because it would undermine public trust.

Principle of beneficence

The duty to maximize good and promote others' well-being.

Principle of Non-malfeance, Harm Principle

Non-malfeasance means minimizing harm; the Harm Principle permits restricting someone's liberty to prevent harm to others.

Advantages of Utilitarianism

It provides a practical way to resolve moral conflicts and offers concrete guidance by focusing on happiness and reducing suffering.

No-rest and absurd-implications objections

No-rest: maximizing happiness could demand endless personal sacrifice. Absurd implications (W. D. Ross): it may justify actions like lying when they produce better outcomes.

Integrity and justice objections

Integrity (Bernard Williams): it may require violating deeply held principles. Justice: it may justify harming innocent individuals for greater overall benefit.