Utilitarianism

Utilitarianism Plan

Section 1

Intro

Bentham – social reform needed new ethics

Universalisable, consequentialist, teleological, relativist

Principle of Utility – Measure of the usefulness of an action, a good action brings happiness

Inspired by Hutcheson “Greatest good for the greatest number.”

Bentham - Act

Quantitatively measure pleasure Hedonist 1789 “Nature has placed mankind

under the governance of two sovereign masters, pain and pleasure. It is for them alone to decide what we ought to do.”

Hedonic Calculus

Mill - Rule

Qualitative measure “Competent judges,” higher/lower

pleasure, everyone can experience both

“Better to be Socrates dissatisfied than a fool satisfied.”

Preference

Solves subjectivity Peter Singer/R.M. Hare Satisfies preferences, easy to

express Joan of Arc

Section 2

Democratic

Acts in the good of the majority Does not allow a dangerous minority

to dominate

Simple

Easy to understand Principle of Utility is hard to

misinterpret.

Intuitive

Based on common sense Everyone wants to experience

pleasure

Too simplistic

Moral dilemmas are complex

Ignores Motivation

A person’s aims could be good and their actions could go wrong.

“Forbids Nothing”

Phillip Pettit: “So long as they promised the best consequences, it would forbid absolutely nothing.”