Bentham's Act Utilitarianism Explained

Act Utilitarianism

States that in any situation, the morally right action is the one that maximizes utility, meaning the greatest happiness for the greatest number.

Motivation

Humans seek pleasure and avoid pain (Bentham's observation).

Principle of Utility

Actions are right or wrong based on their contribution to overall happiness.

Equality

Everyone's happiness counts equally — no special privileges.

Hedonic Calculus

A method to measure pleasure/pain.

Intensity

Strength of pleasure.

Duration

How long pleasure lasts.

Certainty

Likelihood that pleasure will occur.

Propinquity

How soon pleasure will occur.

Fecundity

Likelihood of producing further pleasures.

Purity

Freedom from pain.

Extent

How many people are affected.

Application

Bentham believed in a rational and practical approach to ethics, similar to methods used by economists and politicians.

Summary

Choose actions with maximum benefit; authority and rules are secondary; no hierarchy of pleasures; every person counts equally.

Criticism

Experience matters — Predictable actions (e.g., murder) obviously lead to unhappiness.

Utilitarian Response

Over-focus on consequences (Can't predict future perfectly).

Ignores motives, rules, duties

Rules are good only if they increase happiness; motive is to maximize happiness.

Ignores minority rights

Majority can oppress minority.

Misunderstanding

The Hedonic Calculus would reject harmful acts like gang rape.

Naturalistic Fallacy

Reasonable assumption: since people want happiness, we ought to promote it.

Quick Recap

Seek maximum happiness; everyone matters equally; Hedonic Calculus helps measure right/wrong; Utilitarianism is democratic, rational, and evidence-based.