Utilitarianism

• Utility


  The idea that the choice that brings about the greatest good for the greatest number is the right choice
• Who is utility associated with?

  Jeremy Bentham
• Hedonic calculus


  Calculates the benefit or harm of an act through it’s consequences
• Act utilitarianism 


  Bentham- previous experiences don’t always help us make moral choices, each situation is different so has to be calculated afresh
• Example situation of an Act utilitarian

  An act would justify lying to a Nazi officer about hiding a Jew
• Rule utilitarianism 


  Stewart Mill- follow accepted laws that lead to the greatest overall balance of good over evil
• Example situation of a Rule utilitarian

  They do not need the hedonic calculus to work out that giving money to the poor is right because our previous experiences show that this is the case
• Who is higher/ lower pleasures associated with?

  John Stewart Mill
• Examples of higher pleasures


  Philosophical insight, educational development, self improvement
• Examples of lower pleasures


  Eating a meal, alcohol, sex
• Which is long term, higher or lower pleasures?

  Higher pleasures
• Lower pleasures often lead to pain when over indulged in, quote to support this?

  ‘It is better to be a human being dissatisfied than a pig being satisfied’ - John Stewart Mill
• Bernard Williams


  Who wouldn’t want to be happy in life? who wouldn’t want to maximise the happiness for as many people as we can?
• Epicurus 


  Humans naturally seek pleasure and avoid pain
• Oscar Wilde


  Do not unto others as you would have them do unto you; they may have different tastes
• Negative of utility


  We don’t in general believe that it is a good thing to please the majority by punishing an innocent minority
• Negative of the hedonic calculus

  Bentham doesn’t explain how we’re supposed to measure things like ’intensity’ or ‘remoteness’ of the pain/pleasure
• Negative of act utilitarianism

  It recommends courses of action that would usually go against our moral intuitions eg. if we need to kill an innocent scapegoat to prevent massive harm Bentham thinks we should kill them
• Negative of rule utilitarianism

  J.J. Smart- ‘do not kill’ sounds like a good rule but what about killing in self-defence?