Preference Utility

• R.M. Hare and Peter Singer
• More sophisticated view of what maximises happiness. Bentham believed actions are considered in pleasure/pain, but singer recognised that different people have different preferences and it is best to act in the best interest of those concerned
• It is specist to assume humans are more valuable because they are human. Personhood can be applied to some non-human animals.
• Singer emphasises that people's preferences all count equally.

  My preference is no greater because it is mine.

  Impartial

  Considers all affected by an action
• To get the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people, you must satisfy the majority's preference. People may choose to do things, not for pleasure, but because they are meaningful eg. Writing an essay. The majority of people have a preference to live in a society w/o theft.
• Consequentialist

  Relativist

  Teleological
• Eg, The value of our tastebuds does not outweigh the suffering livestock endure.
• Not about maximising pleasure

  Rejects the quantitative utility of Bentham

  Rejects the use of the calculus

  Rejects mills higher and lower pleasures

  Rejects the need for competent judges
• Understands judgments as subjective, hedonistic arguments/ utilitarianism see judgments as objective.

  Preference Utility notices desires cannot factually be true because they are desires

  Because they are subjective all desires are equal.
• Strengths

  Reduces all preventable suffering

  Preference is easier to measure than happiness or pleasure

  Great aim: satisfy desires

  The motive is more realistic
• Weaknesses

  Some preferences may not be good for the person

  Minority may suffer

  Do people always know what they prefer?