Utilitarianism PDF

Jeremy Bentham & John Stuart Mill Jes Amtar  Have you ever tried sacrificing something/someone that is very valuable in your life for the sake of something greater and better? Is it morally acceptable to sacrifice personal relationships or bonds in or...

Jeremy Bentham & John Stuart Mill Jes Amtar  Have you ever tried sacrificing something/someone that is very valuable in your life for the sake of something greater and better? Is it morally acceptable to sacrifice personal relationships or bonds in order to fulfill larger social or utilitarian goal? Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832) He was born on February 15, 1748 in London, England. He was the teacher of James Mill, the father of John Stuart Mill. He was an advocate of economic freedom, women’s rights and the abolition of slavery, death penalty, and corporal punishment for children, separation of the Church and the State, animal rights, and many more. He denied individual legal rights nor agreed with natural law. He died on June 6, 1832. John Stuart Mill (1806-1873) He was born on May 20, 1806 in Pentoville, London, England. He was the son of James Mill, a friend and disciple of Jeremy Bentham. He studied Greek at the age of 3 and Latin at the age of 8. his ethical theory and his defense of utilitarian views are found in his long essay entitled Utilitarianism (1861). He died on May 8, 1873 in Avignon, France. Definition An ethical theory that argues for the goodness of pleasure and the determination of right behavior is based on the usefulness of the action’s consequences. Pleasure Good Useful One’s action and behavior is good inasmuch as they are directed toward the experience of the greatest pleasure over pain for the greatest number of people. “Utility” Refers to the usefulness of the consequences of one’s behavior. Principle of Utility Our subjection to the sovereign master: pleasure and pain. This principle refers to the motivation of our actions as guided by our avoidance of pain and desire for pleasure. “We do what is pleasurable and we avoid what is painful.”  It also refers to pleasure as good if, and only if, they produce more happiness than unhappiness or pain. Pleasure Happiness What makes people happy? Mill What makes people happy is INTENDED PLEASURE and what makes us unhappy is the PRIVATION OF PLEASURE. Pleasure = Good Pain = Bad/Evil Bentham and Mill They characterized moral value as utility produces happiness or pleasure and avoidance of pain. Pursuit of pain and avoidance of pleasure Only principle in assessing an action’s morality Bentham Theory of life Natural moral preferability of pleasure Felicific Calculus Framework for evaluating pleasure and pain Bentham Felicific Calculus Intensity or strength of pleasure Duration/length of the experience of pleasure Certainty/uncertainty/likelihood that pleasure will occur How soon there will be pleasure Bentham Felicific Calculus Dimensions to consider: 1. Fecundity The chance it has of being followed by sensations of the same kind. 2. Purity The chance it has of not being followed by sensations of the opposite kind. 3. Extent Number of people affected by pleasure or pain. Mill Criticizes Bentham’s single scale of pleasure He argues that pleasure must be distinguished qualitatively not quantitatively He claims that some kinds of pleasure are more desirable than others Higher intellectual pleasures are preferable than purely sensual appetites/bestial pleasure