Utilitarianism, Principle of Utility, Happiness and Pleasure, Hedonic Calculus, Benefits + Problems, Is pleasure all that matters, Advantages + disadvantages, Rule utilitarianism
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Consequentalism
Concerned with best consequences
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Utilitarianism
Jeremy Bentham + John Stuart Mill
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The principle of utiltiy
Greatest good for the greatest number. Good = happiness
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Happiness and pleasure
Hedonism: the only good is pleasure. Psychological vs ethical.
Moral wrong can be done but no direct harm to you e.g. rumors; things which are pleasurable can be bad for you
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Mill's response: two different kinds of pleasures
Response to a doctrine worthy of swine. Higher + lower pleasures.
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Pushpin and Poetry
Bentham: No qualitative difference only quantitative.
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Judges
Mill: competent judges. problem: abandons calculus, elitist, do they?
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Utilitarianism is too demanding
Whatever situation we are in, we have a moral obligation to maximise the good. E.g. when you go out for meal you could be donating money for charity. Utilitarianism demands you should do this.
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Impartiality
Family over strangers. Bernald Williams: One thought too many
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Tyranny of the majority
E.g. sadistic guards.
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No intrinsically wrong acts
Only consequences are bad. E.g. George's problematic job. Utilitarianism says yes. Williams: Obviously right?
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Act vs rule
Act: individual acts. Rule: general moral rules
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Benefits of rule utilitarianism
Does not allow innocent to be frame, healthy to be killed, to maximise utility. Take care of and partial to our loved ones.
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Problems
Are there exceptions to this? What if just once torturing someone is best? 1. Yes = rule utilitarianism. 2. Formulate rules which can meet no exceptions = justify anything 3. No = JJ Smart: no longer utilitarianism
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