Utilitarianism

Teleological, moral ethical theory based on consequentialism, which has fixed but not absolute right and wrong rules.

Act (Classic):‘The greatest good for the greatest number’ – Bentham

Hedonistic: associated with pleasure being the sole good. ‘The pursuit of pleasure is the most important thing in life’

-          Humans are motivated by pleasure and pain

-          According to Bentham – all humans pursue pleasure and avoid pain

-          Identifies moral good with pleasure and moral evil with pain

-          “nature has placer mankind under the governance of two sovereign masters, pain and pleasure”   

 - Principle of Utility: actions/behaviours are right as long as they promote happiness (for the majority).

-          Unselfish – you cannot put yourself first

-        - Hedonic Calculus: DR PRICE can be used to calculate the consequences and decision to be made.

Criticisms

• An innocent individual can be wrongly convicted of crime if the majority plead it (such as in Harper Lee’s ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’
• The hedonic calculus is not always applicable or time efficient
• Pleasures differ from each person
• The happiness of the minority is extinguished and they are left to suffer, no matter whether it is right
• Bentham does not distinguish between types of pleasure
• It is counter intuitive – the hedonic calculus values two actions the same, although one is the result of a morally wrong action (for ex: lying). Our intuition tells us its intrinsically better to tell the truth.

Rule: An example is J.S Mill. An action that is right that conforms to rule and leads to the greatest good or “greatest utility for…