Transcript utilitarianism01

Utilitarianism
Lecture 1: Analysis of the doctrine
3 basic concepts of morality
• the right: rightness of action and justice of
institutions
• the good: ends or states of affairs worth
promoting
• moral worth: goodness of character
Consequentialist or teleological
approach
• takes the good as the basic concept
• right actions and just institutions: those that
maximize the good
• good character: traits that dispose one to
right action
• rhetorical argument: how can it ever be
wrong to do what produces the most good?
Utilitarianism
• a consequentialist theory
• defines the good as happiness
• happiness = net balance of pleasure over
pain
Utilitarianism and the ideal
spectator approach
• An impartial, sympathetic observer would
respond negatively to any pain and
positively to any pleasure (no matter whose)
• Therefore he would approve of those
actions that maximize happiness
Utilitarianism and democratic
reform
• Bentham (1748-1832) and Mill (1806-1873)
were democratic reformers
• Wanted equal consideration of interests
3 objections (Mill, chap. 2)
• Utilitarianism is a “pig philosophy”
• It is motivationally too demanding
• The calculations cannot be done in time
A “pig philosophy”?
• Pleasures come in different kinds, some of
which are better than others
• Ranking is settled by preference of those
who have experienced the different kinds
• Better to be Socrates dissatisfied than a fool
satisfied
• Higher pleasures often promote the
happiness of others
Motivationally too demanding?
• Utilitarianism does not require utilitarian
motivation.
• Objection confuses the criterion of right
with the desirable motive
• Some non-utilitarian motives are important
to happiness
• Others can be made to work for happiness
• Utilitarianism must work on several levels
Not enough time to calculate?
• Objection confuses criterion of right with
the desirable decision procedure
• Subordinate principles often used in
decision
• These have been refined by long experience
Circumstances calling for direct
calculation
• Subordinate principles conflict
• Unusual situation
• Trying to formulate or refine subordinate
principles