Utilitarianism

There are three principles that act as the basic axioms of utilitarianism:

• Pleasure or happiness is the only thing that truly has an intrinsic value

• Actions are right insofar as they create or produce happiness, and are conversely wrong insofar as they reduce or negate the production of pleasure or happiness.

• Everyone’s happiness counts equally-there should be no distinction.

The last point is one of great significance especially to Bentham- his idea of the greatest happiness for the greatest number principle (inspired by  was one that caused considerable outrage and refutation- given that it endorses exploitation to the gross amount- this is known as the swine ethic. He also noted that it compromises the premise of classical utilitarianism in that it entails a principle of justice…