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GE8 Chapter 3

This document discusses utilitarian ethics, specifically focusing on the quantitative model of Jeremy Bentham and the qualitative model of John Stuart Mill. It defines utilitarianism as the theory that an act is morally right if it produces the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people. It then summarizes Bentham's view of measuring happiness quantitatively and Mill's view of also considering the quality of happiness. The document also discusses criticisms of utilitarianism around negative responsibility and potentially violating moral rules.

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Leila Janezza Paranaque
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289 views26 pages

GE8 Chapter 3

This document discusses utilitarian ethics, specifically focusing on the quantitative model of Jeremy Bentham and the qualitative model of John Stuart Mill. It defines utilitarianism as the theory that an act is morally right if it produces the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people. It then summarizes Bentham's view of measuring happiness quantitatively and Mill's view of also considering the quality of happiness. The document also discusses criticisms of utilitarianism around negative responsibility and potentially violating moral rules.

Uploaded by

Leila Janezza Paranaque
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Chapter3- Utilitarianism

Balsomo Aron
Bau, Eleonora
Goals
After the lesson, we should be able to:

1. Discuss the basic principles of utilitarian ethics


2. Distinguish between utilitarian models: the quantitative models of
Jeremy Bentham and the qualitative model of John Stuart Mill;
and
3. Apply Utilitarianism in understanding and evaluating local and
international scenarios.
01
Introduction
What is Utilitarianism
⮚ The ethical theory was founded/devised by Jeremy Bentham and developed

and popularized by John Stuart Mill.

⮚ It is based on the principle of Utility or the greatest good.

⮚ The key principle of Utilitarianism is the principle of happiness.


Utilitarianism

Hence, in Utilitarianism, an act is good or morally right if it produces the greatest happiness
to the greatest number of people and bad or immoral if it produces more harm or pain than
benefits or happiness to the greatest number of people.

⮚ This theory emphasizes Ends over means.

⮚ Therefore, it is a consequentialist ethical theory.


Two Formulations of Utilitarian Theory

Principle of Utility: The best action is that Greatest Happiness: We ought to do that which
which produces the greatest happiness and/or produces the greatest happiness and least pain for the
greatest number of people.
reduces pain.
❖ An action is right if it produces the greatest good
The action that produces the most happiness is for the greatest number.
the most moral. ❖ The more pleasure that an action produces, the
better it is.
Application of Utilitarian Theory

A) You attempt to help an elderly B) You attempt to help an elderly man


man across the street. He gets across the street. You stumble as you go,
across safely. he is knocked into the path of a car, and is
hurt.
Conclusion: The act was a good
act. Conclusion: The act was a bad act.
Utilitarianism

For example:
Robin Hood steals property from
wealthy people and gives them to the
poor.

● Christian Ethics: ● Utilitarianism:

Robin Hood’s act is immoral because it Robin Hood’s act is morally good
deprived the wealthy one of the right because it produces maximum
that is due them. happiness for most people.
Jeremy Bentham’s Model of Utilitarianism

⮚ Utilitarianism was devised by Jeremy


Bentham (1758-1832)
⮚ He is an English philosopher or
utilitarian
⮚ Recognized as ‘Act Utilitarian’

How does he view happiness?


Jeremy Bentham’s Model of Utilitarianism

⮚ Happiness is simply the absence of pain.

⮚ The great good that we should seek is happiness. (a hedonistic perspective)

⮚ Those actions whose results increase happiness or diminish pain are good. They
have “utility.”
⮚ Right actions result in ‘good or pleasure,’ wrong actions result in pain or absence
of pleasure.
⮚ He introduces the felicific calculus (utility calculus or hedonistic calculus) to
measure the degree of happiness or pleasure that a specific action may produce.
Jeremy Bentham’s Model of Utilitarianism

An action is to be preferred if its pleasure is


⮚ In determining the quantity of happiness
❖ intensity (more intense),
that might be produced by an action, we
❖ duration (lasts longer),
evaluate the possible consequences by
❖ certainty (more certain that it will happen),
applying several values: Intensity, duration,
❖ propinquity (will occur soon),
certainty or uncertainty, propinquity or
❖ fecundity (probably followed by another pleasure),
remoteness, fecundity, purity, and extent.
❖ purity (purer)

❖ extent (benefits the majority)


Application of Utilitarian Theory

⮚ If lying or stealing will actually bring about more happiness and/or reduce pain, Act
Utilitarianism says we should lie and steal in those cases.

⮚ An example of utilitarianism is found in a situation when a person was trying to judge


whether it was wrong to lie to a friend. According to utilitarianism, this question is entirely
about how the lie affects people's well-being, including that of the person telling the lie, the
friend who hears the lie, and anyone else who might be indirectly affected. If the lie causes
suffering to people, it is immoral to tell it, whereas if it brings people happiness, it is moral
to tell it.
Criticisms of Bentham’s theory

⮚ Bentham’s theory could mean that if 10 people would be happy watching a man
being eaten by wild dogs, it would be a morally good thing for the 10 men to
kidnap someone (especially someone whose death would not cause grief to many
others) and throw the man into a cage of wild, hungry dogs.

⮚ If a doctor can save five people from death by killing one healthy person and
using that person’s organs for life-saving transplants, then act utilitarianism
implies that the doctor should kill the one person to save five.
John Stuart Mill’s Model of Utilitarianism

⮚ Act (Contemporary) Utilitarianism


An action is right if and only if it conforms to a set of rules the general acceptance of which
would produce the greatest balance of pleasure over pain for the greatest number.
Therefore, the greater good or happiness can be achieved by following and adhering to the
correct rules that apply to all equally.
Concerned with the quality of pleasure and quantity of people who enjoy it.
⮚ Recognized higher and lower types of human pleasure.
⮚ He argues that the pleasures of the mind are higher than those of the body.
John Stuart Mill’s Model of Utilitarianism

⮚ Lower pleasures: eating, drinking, sexuality, etc.


⮚ Higher pleasures: intellectuality, creativity and spirituality
⮚ He was aware that utilitarianism was being criticized for promoting desire and
that is lower human nature to the level of swine.
“It is better to be a human being
dissatisfied than a pig satisfied; better to
be Socrates dissatisfied than a fool
satisfied.

—John Stuart Mill


John Stuart Mill’s Model of Utilitarianism

⮚ Mill argues that we must consider the quality of the happiness, not
merely the quantity.

⮚ For example, some might find happiness with a pitcher of beer and a
pizza. Others may find happiness watching a fine Shakespearean play.
The quality of happiness is greater with the latter.
John Stuart Mill’s Rule Utilitarianism

Rule Utilitarianism

An action is right if and only if it conforms to a set of rules, the general


acceptance of which would produce the greatest balance of pleasure over
pain for the greatest number. (John Stuart Mill)
John Stuart Mill’s Rule Utilitarianism

If Act utilitarianism (Jeremy Bentham) is interested only in an action's impact when judging
if that action was good; a Rule Utilitarian, on the other hand, would be interested in the
goodness or badness of the moral rule that the action follows. Rule utilitarians prioritize good
general rules over the particular consequences of a given action, whereas act utilitarians focus
on these particular consequences and not on rules.

In other words,

Act utilitarianism: do that which would create the most happiness. You look at your action as a
single situation. Rule utilitarianism: do that which, if everyone in society did, would create the
most happiness. Consequences are on the rules followed.
John Stuart Mill’s Rule Utilitarianism

An example of rule utilitarianism is illustrated in a case when someone


attempts to decide whether it is moral to tell a lie in a specific situation.
According to rule utilitarianism, the person should think about how the
world would be if there was a general rule allowing people to lie, versus
how it would be if there was a general rule banning lying. Since the
second option probably seems better, the person should obey the better
rule and not lie.
John Stuart Mill’s Quality Argument

“Utilitarianism requires him to be impartial between his own happiness


and that of others. Jesus' golden rule encapsulates utility ethics. The
ideal utilitarian morality is "to do as you would be done by" and "to love
your neighbor as yourself."
Criticisms of Utilitarianism

If I am to bring the greatest happiness to the greatest number, not putting


my own happiness above others, that may lead to a dilemma. I live in a
neighborhood where 83% of my neighbors use drugs. I could make them
most happy by helping supply them with cheap drugs, but I feel
uncomfortable doing that. What should a utilitarian do?
Criticisms of Utilitarianism

Bernard Williams criticizes the implied “doctrine of negative responsibility” in


Utilitarianism. For example, a thug breaks into my home and holds six people
hostage, telling us he will kill all of us. “However,” the thug says, “if you will kill
two of your family, I will let you and the other three live.”
With Utilitarianism, the good thing to do is kill two family members.
Criticisms of Utilitarianism

Utilitarianism plays fast and loose with God’s commandments. If lying,


stealing, or killing could lead to an increase of happiness for the greatest
number, we are told we should lie, steal or kill. Isn’t that a rejection of
God’s commands?
Rights and Utilitarianism

⮚ Many philosophers hold that we have certain rights, either from God,
nature, or from a social contract
⮚ Can the idea of rights be made compatible with Utilitarianism?
⮚ If ignoring rights brings about more happiness to the greatest number,
should we ignore so-called rights?
⮚ Mill’s rule-based view in on liberty having a right to liberty will bring
the greatest happiness.
Thank you for listening.

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