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Utilitarianism REAL
Created time 10 April 2026 15:05
Last edited time 25 July 2026 02:03
note
Consequentialism
Utilitarianism
Principle of Utility / Greatest Happiness Principle
Act Utilitarianism
Rule Utilitarianism
Consequences of general rules
Criticism: Rule-worship objection (towards strong rule)
Criticism: “Collapse into act utilitarianism” objection (towards weak rule)
Preference Utilitarianism (invented by Hare and developed by Singer)
Criticism: competing preferences
Response: Singer
Bentham’s Utilitarianism
The Utility Calculus (Felicific Calculus)
Criticisms: ignores the moral integrity of the individual.
Criticisms: Challenges Psychological Hedonism – Nozick’s Experience Machine
Criticism: Partiality
Response: Parfit’s blameless wrongdoings
Defence: overlooks intrinsic value
Criticism: Tyranny of the Majority
Defence: we’re mistaken that the tyranny of majority is justified
Criticism: Unpredictability
Criticism: To what extent should we take account of the consequences?
Utilitarianism REAL 1
, Criticism: Consequences or Motive?
Consequentialism
Decide whether actions are morally right/wrong based on their
consequence/outcome.
Utilitarianism
Comes from the idea of utility (usefulness) – something has utility if it helps
achieve a particular goal.
Principle of Utility / Greatest Happiness Principle
An action is morally right/good if it leads to the greatest happiness for the
greatest number of people.
Act Utilitarianism
We should choose the action that produces the most pleasure & least pain for
each individual situation.
Rule Utilitarianism
Consequences of general rules
Focus on the consequences of general rules rather than specific actions (unlike
act utilitarianism).
Those general rules are decided on the basis of whether they promote utility,
and actions are deemed right/good depending on whether they accord with
those rules.
Strong rule utilitarianism: strictly follow the rules even if breaking them
might produce more utility.
Weak rule utilitarianism: follow the rules unless breaking them would lead
to greater utility.
Criticism: Rule-worship objection (towards strong rule)
It seems irrational to adhere to the rule under certain cases.
e.g. “Do not lie” in a life-or-death situation sounds absurd.
Utilitarianism REAL 2
Utilitarianism REAL
Created time 10 April 2026 15:05
Last edited time 25 July 2026 02:03
note
Consequentialism
Utilitarianism
Principle of Utility / Greatest Happiness Principle
Act Utilitarianism
Rule Utilitarianism
Consequences of general rules
Criticism: Rule-worship objection (towards strong rule)
Criticism: “Collapse into act utilitarianism” objection (towards weak rule)
Preference Utilitarianism (invented by Hare and developed by Singer)
Criticism: competing preferences
Response: Singer
Bentham’s Utilitarianism
The Utility Calculus (Felicific Calculus)
Criticisms: ignores the moral integrity of the individual.
Criticisms: Challenges Psychological Hedonism – Nozick’s Experience Machine
Criticism: Partiality
Response: Parfit’s blameless wrongdoings
Defence: overlooks intrinsic value
Criticism: Tyranny of the Majority
Defence: we’re mistaken that the tyranny of majority is justified
Criticism: Unpredictability
Criticism: To what extent should we take account of the consequences?
Utilitarianism REAL 1
, Criticism: Consequences or Motive?
Consequentialism
Decide whether actions are morally right/wrong based on their
consequence/outcome.
Utilitarianism
Comes from the idea of utility (usefulness) – something has utility if it helps
achieve a particular goal.
Principle of Utility / Greatest Happiness Principle
An action is morally right/good if it leads to the greatest happiness for the
greatest number of people.
Act Utilitarianism
We should choose the action that produces the most pleasure & least pain for
each individual situation.
Rule Utilitarianism
Consequences of general rules
Focus on the consequences of general rules rather than specific actions (unlike
act utilitarianism).
Those general rules are decided on the basis of whether they promote utility,
and actions are deemed right/good depending on whether they accord with
those rules.
Strong rule utilitarianism: strictly follow the rules even if breaking them
might produce more utility.
Weak rule utilitarianism: follow the rules unless breaking them would lead
to greater utility.
Criticism: Rule-worship objection (towards strong rule)
It seems irrational to adhere to the rule under certain cases.
e.g. “Do not lie” in a life-or-death situation sounds absurd.
Utilitarianism REAL 2
