INTRODUCTION

“What is useful is good, and the moral value of actions are determined by the utility
of its consequences.”

Utilitarianism is a theory proposed by Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill. This
theory is all about the utility or being useful of a consequence to a greater number of
people that makes it a right action even if it is an immoral act.

The principle of utility can be applied to either particular actions or general rules.
It is divided into two principle which are act utilitarianism and rule utilitarianism. Act
utilitarianism the principle of utility is applied directly to every alternative act in a
situation of choice. The right act is the one which brings about the best results, or the
least amount of bad results. Rule utilitarianism the principle of utility is used to decide
the validity of rules of conduct. A moral rule such as promise-keeping is established
by evaluating the consequences of a word in which promises were binding.

This theory has a lot of criticisms from other philosophers due to its principle that
indicates that an act is right even if it is done from an evil motive as long as it brings
about advantageous effects. The positive side of this theory is that it can be used in
business aspects.
 I. UTILITARIANISM

Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832) and John Stuart Mill (1808-73) are the main
proponents of the moral theory called utilitarianism.

TELEOLOGICAL

It judges the rightness of an act in terms of an external goal or purpose. Its basis
in the determination of what one ought (or ought not) to do rests exclusively on the
consequences of the act, mot the nature of the act nor the traditional moral rules.

A. Consequentialist Ethics

Actions, rules or policies should be ethically measured and evaluated by their

consequences, not by the intentions or motives of the agent. It is opposed to the belief
of absolutists.

Principle:

“ There is no kind of act which may not justified by its effects”

B. Absolutists

Believe in natural law or natural rights which render some acts- those which
violate those rights or conflicts with the law-as immoral, no matter what their
outcomes are.
Principle:

“Some actions are intrinsically wrong and must never be done no matter
what the results are”
Utilitarianism

“what is useful is good, and the moral value of actions are determined by the utility
of its consequences.”

Most influential consequentialist theory. It comes from the Greek word utilis
means ‘useful’. It argues that the Consequences of an act is what make it either moral
or immoral, it explains that those actions that bring about favorable effects are moral
while those that produce damaging results are immoral. Opposed to ethical theories
that God’s will or some inner sense or faculty, like the conscience, to be the final
arbiter of morality. Utilitarian ethics argue that the right course of action is one that
maximizes overall happiness.

A concept of it is the hedontistic which identifies happiness with pleasure which

states that states “an action is right if it amplifies pleasures and minimizes pain.”

The principle of utility can be applied to either particular actions or general rules.
It is divided into two principle which are act utilitarianism and rule utilitarianism.

1.1 ACT UTILITARIANISM

The principle of utility is applied directly to every alternative act in a situation of

choice. The right act is the one which brings about the best results, or the least amount
of bad results. One criticism is the difficulty of getting a full knowledge and certainly
of the consequences of people’s actions. It is argued that, it is possible to justify
immoral acts using Act Utilitarianism.

Example:

“Supposed you could end a regional war by torturing the children of the rebels
that will reveal the hideouts of their rebel fathers.”

The purpose is definitely immoral but the consequence says that it is right
because the war will stopped and a lot of people will be safe.
1.2 RULE UTILITARIANISM

The principle of utility is used to decide the validity of rules of conduct. A moral
rule such as promise-keeping is established by evaluating the consequences of a word
in which promises were binding. Moral and immoral are defined as following or
breaking rules. One of the criticism is it is possible to produce unjust rules according
to the principle of utility.

Example:

“Slavery in Greece might be right if it led to an overall achievement of cultivated

happiness at the expense of some mistreated individuals.

It produces happiness but still it shows injustice to the mistreated individuals.

II. ORIGINS AND NATURE OF THE THEORY

Jeremy Bentham founded the doctrine of utilitarianism but John Stuart Mill later
systematized and modified some of Bentham’s utilitarian principles. Jeremy Bentham
proposed the primary form of utilitarianism in his introduction to the Principles Of
Morals and Legislation (1789). He took over the principle of utility from David
Hume.

2.1 BENTHAM’S UTILITARIANISM

Bentham explains that ‘utility’ means that property in any object, whereby it
tends to produce benefit, advantage, pleasure, good or happiness or to prevent the
happening of mischief, pain, evil or unhappiness.

PRINCIPLE OF UTILITY:

“an action is right in so far as it tends to produce the greatest happiness for the
greatest number.”

The advancement of the greatest happiness for the greatest number is the supreme
objective of human action. The principle of utility not the natural law, natural rights or
social contracts which serves as the objective barometer in ethically evaluating human
action, state laws, and legal systems. People act in their own interests because people
are essentially seekers of pleasure and avoiders of pain. Pleasure and pain are the two
sovereign masters. Concept of pain and pleasure Is the scope and limit of Bentham’s
ethical system. Nothing else but pleasure is intrinsically good.

4 SANCTIONS/SOURCES OF PLEASURE:

1. Physical

2. Moral

3. Religious

4. Political

Dubbed as quantitative hedonist or quantitative utilitarian, he created “hedonic

calculus”, to calculate the quantitative worth of pleasures.

7 CRITERIA OR INGREDIENTS:

1. Intensity

2. Duration

3. Certainty

4. Propinquity

5. Fecundity

6. Purity

7. Extent to which pleasureand pain are shared among the greatest number of
people.

“Utilitarianism determines the moral value of an act by calculating the sum of

pleasure it caused and the amount of pain regenerated”

As regards to punishment, Bentham disapproves the retributive principle or that

which requires that he who has done harm shall endure harm. Bentham’s account of
the justification of punishment is deterrent meaning punishment can only be justified
if it deters people from perpetrating future harm.

2.2 MILL’S UTILITARIANISM

He made the doctrine the subject of his philosophical treatise (utilitarianism)

published in 1863. He advocates also the greatest happiness principle; “the greatest
happiness of the greatest number that is the measure of right and wrong”

Mill differs fundamentally from Bentham in 2 aspects. First, Mill rejects the
purely quantitative treatment of the principle of utility. Second, he introduces the
‘secondary principles’ which set the tone for a contemporary variant form of the
theory “rule utilitarianism.” Concerning the first point, he distinguished higher and
lower pleasures. Addressing the criticism that utilitarianism defines man in terms of
mere pleasure and pain, he cites Epicurus.

“while good or happy life is the life of pleasure, it does not mean only sensual
pleasure.” - EPICURUS

Physical pleasure = lower pleasures or those which animals too can experience.
Examples are eating, sleeping, sitting and crying.

“It is better to be a human being dissatisfied than a pig satisfied; better be Socrates
dissatisfied than a fool satisfied.”

Higher pleasure = intellectual. An examples are studying, reading and

memorizing.

“More desirable and more valuable pleasure are exclusive to humans”

Considered a qualitative hedonist, he just wants qualitative distinctions among

happiness. A happiness that is made up principally of higher pleasure is higher,
deeper, truer and more valuable form of happiness.

As regards to secondary principle, he believes that past experiences teach us

which kinds of action promote happiness and which do not. Secondary principles
serves as practical rules, giving knowledge about the tendencies of actions when no
better information is available. However actions are justified by these practical rules,
it’s the consequences manifested in past experiences which validate them.

III. ANALYSIS OF UTILITARIANISM

Utilitarianism appears to be a direct negative reaction against Kantian ethics.

While Kant proposes that an action is justified by the person’s motive to perform his
duty, Bentham and Will counteract this by submitting that actions are evaluated
through their consequences.

As a moral theory, utilitarianism appears to be attractive. Basically anchored on

the pleasure and pain concepts, utilitarianism has transcultural appeal as all sentient
beings understand pain and pleasure.

Utilitarians also allows exception to the rule if justified by the consequences.

Take the case of a lying to protect another from sure anger.

The theory nonetheless receives some negative criticisms. For one thing, it is not
easy to foresee with certainty the consequences of actions. The theory demands to
perform a computation that practically not all people have time to do before judging
an action.

IV. BUSINESS’S FASCINATION WITH UTILITARIANISM

Utilitarianism is perhaps the most broadly understood and normally applied

ethical theory in business. Business executes normally embrace the utilitarian
approaches to ethical problem because they are so compatible with traditional
business thinking. As long as business is concerned, is its cost benefit character.

Like utilitarian, business executes recognize that not everybody will benefit from
a particular action. Business manager = win or loss situation. Utilitarian philosophy
accommodates complex situations more easily than others, more absolute, moral
theories.
Answer the Following Questions?

1. What is the main idea of Utilitarianism according to mill and Bentham?

2. And In 500 Words, write a creative essay using the title “My view of Duterte’s
Administration If I were a Utilitarian”