3D - Classical Utilitarianism - Jeremy Bentham’s Act Utilitarianism: Happiness as the Basis of Morality

Give an introduction to Bentham and utilitarianism.

• Bentham = originator of modern utilitarianism
- Barrister + expert in law
- Became a social reformer and sought to develop an ethical theory that promoted actions which would benefit the majority of society, rather than just the elite

• Basis for utilitarianism can be traced back to ancient Greece: Aristotle's virtue ethics (pursuit of happiness) - eudaimonia
- Can be seen as part of the Enlightenment Era

What is the principle of utility?

• "that principle which approves or disapproves of an action on whether an action augments of diminishes happiness"

• Happiness = the "sovereign good" - the supreme ethical value ∵ it is good for people to be happy
- "When happiness is present, we have everything: but when it is absent, we do everything to possess it."

What did Bentham claim was the basis for the principle of utility?

• A statement by Joseph Priestley: "the greatest happiness of the greatest number"

What does the French word 'utilite' mean, and how does this affect utilitarianism?

• Usefulness
• The most useful end it that which maximises happiness

How is morality judged when using Bentham's act utilitarianism?

• Judged on whether it promotes a balance of pleasure over pain
- Good/right = outcome creates more pleasure than pain (happiness)
- Bad/wrong = more pain than pleasure (unhappiness)

What is the hedonic (felicific) calculus, and why did Bentham create it?

• An algorithm for calculating the degree or amount of pleasure that a specific action is likely to cause

• Created it ∵ he accepted that measuring happiness = diff.

List the seven elements of the hedonic (felicific) calculus.

1) Intensity
2) Duration
3) Certainty
4) Propinquity (remoteness)
5) Fecundity (richness)
6) Purity
7) Extent

Are the elements in the hedonic (felicific) calculus equal or unequal?

• Equal

• Contrary to the belief that 'extent' is the most important
- If the other six criteria positively affect a smaller number of people, extent can be ignored

• Contrary to the belief that the most pleasure is what is being pursued
- We should do the action that creates the biggest difference between pleasure and pain; it is no good doing an action that creates lots of pleasure but also lots of pain

Elaborate on the element of intensity, using an example.

• The stronger, the better - acute, potent rush of pleasure
- e.g. Having your favourite ice-cream

Elaborate on the element of duration, using an example.

• The longer-lasting, the better
- e.g. Having a huge ice-cream

Elaborate on the element of certainty, using an example.

• The surer that pleasure will result, the better
- e.g. Having an ice-cream you know you like

Elaborate on the element of propinquity (remoteness), using an example.

• The nearer the pleasure is, the better (present, not future)
- e.g. Having an ice-cream now rather than in two weeks

Elaborate on the element of fecundity (richness), using an example.

• The more chance the pleasure will be repeated, the better
- e.g. Buying an ice-cream machine

Elaborate on the element of purity, using an example.

• The least amount of pain involved, the better
- e.g. Having an ice cream flavour that everyone likes

Elaborate on the element of extent, using an example.

• The more people who experience it, the better
- e.g. Everyone in school having their favourite ice-cream flavour together

Give three words to describe Bentham's act utilitarianism and elaborate on them.

• Teleological (goal of happiness)

• Consequentialist (outcome of greatest happiness for greatest number)

• Relativistic (no universal moral norms - each 'act' (situation) is different)

Finish the sentence: although Bentham is said to be an act utilitarian...

• ...he did not claim that it was necessary to calculate right/wrong of every act from the hedonic calculus

What is act utilitarianism?

• A form of utilitarianism associated with Bentham that treats each moral situation as unique and applies the hedonic calculus to each act to see if it fulfils the 'principle of utility'

Finish the sentence and give a quote from Bentham: agents should create happiness up until...

• ...the point of their own death
• "Every day will invite you to add something to the pleasure of others"

What is negative act utilitarianism?

• If all possible actions bring about more pain than pleasure, you do the action that brings the least amount of pain/unhappiness

What are some similarities between act utilitarianism and situation ethics?

• There is a guiding principle
• Teleological
• Not legalistic

"Nature has placed mankind under the governance of two sovereign masters".
What are they?

• Pain and pleasure
- "pleasure and pain alone point out what we ought to do"
- Humanity = motivated by the avoidance of pain, and desire for pleasure (similar to hedonism)