Utilitarianism

Key terms

Deontology

The theory that morality is a matter of duty. We have moral duties/obligations to do things which it is right to do and moral duties not to do things which it is wrong to do. Whether something is right or wrong doesn't depend on its consequences.

Teleology

Whether an action is right or wrong is dependent upon the consequences which come from it.

Hedonism

The only thing that is intrinsically good is pleasure and the only thing that is intrinsically bad is pain. Any other 'good' is only instrumentally good.

Psychological hedonism

The view that all human action is ultimately governed by seeking pleasure and avoiding pain.

Moral hedonism

The right action is that which maximises pleasure and minimises pain. This goes beyond saying humans seek pleasure and they ought to seek pleasure.

Hedonistic utilitarianism

What is right, and what we ought to do, is that which promotes pleasure for the greatest number of people.

Act utilitarianism

The theory that only happiness is good, and the right act is that act that maximises happiness. Hedonistically understood as happiness in terms of the balance of pleasure over pain.

Principle of utility

The best good is that which will bring about the greatest sum of pleasure or the least sum of pain, for the greatest number.

Relativist

Dependent upon the circumstances.

Absolutist

Fixed in all circumstances.

Hedonic Calculus

In Bentham's ethics, the means of calculating pleasures and pains caused by an action and adding them up on a single scale. The total amount of happiness produced is the sum total of everyone's pleasures minus the sum total of everyone's pains.

Tyranny of the majority

The unjust exercise of power by a majority of people over a minority who have different values or desires.

Moral integrity

Having consistent moral values which will not be compromised.

Partiality

Favouring some people or entities over others.

Rule utilitarianism

The theory that only happiness is good, and the right act is that act that complies with those rules which, if everybody followed them, would lead to the greatest happiness.

Mill’s harm principle

A rule which states that individuals are free to act however they wish, as long as their actions do not harm others.

Preference utilitarianism

The theory that we should maximise happiness, which is understood not in terms of pleasure and pain, but in terms of the satisfaction of people's preferences.

Welfare

A metric measured by an objective list (e.g., health, education), preference satisfaction (how well individual desires are fulfilled), and hedonism (the pursuit of pleasure and happiness).