In-Depth Notes on Utilitarianism and Ethical Decision-Making

Introduction to Utilitarianism

• Defined as an ethical theory that promotes actions that maximize happiness or pleasure for the greatest number of people.
• Example of Batman killing Joker invoked strength of emotions around ethics even in fictional contexts.
• Crucial questions arise in ethics regarding consent and the legitimacy of actions taken for the greater good.

Key Concepts of Utilitarianism

• Utilitarianism is often applied in high-stake decisions, especially in governmental contexts post-9/11.
• Decisions based on this theory often sacrifice a minority for the majority's benefits, posing ethical dilemmas.
• Leaders frequently resort to utilitarian reasoning when a life is at stake; emphasizing a pragmatic approach to complex moral situations.

Decision-Making Process in Utilitarianism

• Emphasizes thorough research and consideration of all alternatives before making a decision.
• Utilitarianism holds decision-makers responsible for outcomes—there's no escape from accountability.
• Prediction plays a crucial role: no one can predict the future perfectly, but past actions must be evaluated for their consequences.

Principles of Utilitarianism

• Bentham's Utilitarianism: First formal version where decisions are measured quantitatively (hedonistic calculus).
  • Happiness, pleasure, and the greater good are interchangeable terms in his theory.
  • Emphasizes democracy in decision-making where public consensus helps ascertain the beauty of choices made.
  • Introduced the concept of Hedons (hedonic units) as a unit of pleasure.
• Mill’s Enhancements: Focused on intrinsically valuable pleasures (intellectual/emotional) rather than superficial ones (materialistic).
  • Advocated for the importance of qualitative over quantitative measures in pleasure.

Critiques and Complications

• Criticism of utilitarianism mainly targeted its reliance on questionable assumptions about human rationality and predictability.
• Kant’s Challenge: Critiqued utilitarianism for its lack of absolute moral rules, which may result in morally questionable outcomes.
• Emotional and ethical implications arise when consequences are calculated solely by number of lives saved versus lost.
• Example from WWII detailed Churchill’s ethical reflections on decisions surrounding the bombing of Coventry:
  • He faced the moral dilemma of allowing civilian casualties for strategic advantage.

Role of Reason in Ethical Decision-Making

• Utilitarian arguments should be rooted in facts, not pre-existing beliefs or desires.
• Modern rationalists utilize reason but acknowledge the limitations of inductive reasoning, i.e., based solely on sensory experiences.

Historical Context and Influence

• Recognition that utilitarianism evolved significantly through different thinkers and societal changes—highlighting its adaptability to contemporary ethics.
• Bentham's belief in communal decision-making and the influence of societal structures showcases democracy's relationship to utilitarian practice.

Conclusion

• Both Bentham and Mill stress the significance of education and rational discourse in shaping ethical decisions.
• Encountered concerns regarding societal trust in democratic participation due to varying capacities for perceiving the ‘greater good’.
• The ongoing evaluation between individual rights versus collective good shows utilitarianism's evolving nature in ethical philosophy.