Chapter 5: Utilitarianism and John Stuart Mill
Monday, February 6, 2023
11:39 PM
Weighing Consequences
• Utilitarian point of view- take into account the general happiness of everyone
• Maximize good consequences
• Utilitarian reasoning might run counter to intuitions about basic principles
• Should we use torture on terrorist suspects if we think this might save many lives?
Historical Background
• Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832)
• John Stuart Mill (1806-1873)
• Original utilitarian's were democratic, progressive, empiricist, optimistic
• Believed that when interests of various persons conflicted, best choice was that that
promoted the interests of the greatest number
The Principle of Utility (Greatest Happiness Principle)
• Utilitarianism is a form of consequentialism - focuses on consequences of actions
• Mill's principle of utility - the morally best alternative is that which produces the greatest
net utility
• We ought to do that which produces the greatest amount of happiness for the greatest
number of people
Pleasure and Happiness
• Classical utilitarianism reduces all other goods to some form of pleasure of happiness
• Similar to hedonism or Epicureanism
• Mill: we should consider to range of the type of pleasure in our attempts to decide what
the best action is
Calculating the Greatest Amount of Happiness
• Bentham: The happiness or pleasure of all who are affected by an action or practice that
is to be considered
• Five elements to calculate the greatest amount of happiness
o Pleasure minus pain
o Intensity
o Duration
o Fruitfulness
o Likelihood
Quantity vs. Quality of Pleasure
• Bentham: Consider only the quantity of pleasure or happiness brought about by various
acts
• Mill: The quality of the pleasure should also count
• Mill: Intellectual pleasures are better than sensual ones
Evaluating Utilitarianism
• Problems:
o No one can consider all the variables involved in happiness
o It is an affront to our personal integrity
o The "ends justify the means": can cause more harm than good
The Trolley Problem
• Moral dilemma
Monday, February 6, 2023
11:39 PM
Weighing Consequences
• Utilitarian point of view- take into account the general happiness of everyone
• Maximize good consequences
• Utilitarian reasoning might run counter to intuitions about basic principles
• Should we use torture on terrorist suspects if we think this might save many lives?
Historical Background
• Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832)
• John Stuart Mill (1806-1873)
• Original utilitarian's were democratic, progressive, empiricist, optimistic
• Believed that when interests of various persons conflicted, best choice was that that
promoted the interests of the greatest number
The Principle of Utility (Greatest Happiness Principle)
• Utilitarianism is a form of consequentialism - focuses on consequences of actions
• Mill's principle of utility - the morally best alternative is that which produces the greatest
net utility
• We ought to do that which produces the greatest amount of happiness for the greatest
number of people
Pleasure and Happiness
• Classical utilitarianism reduces all other goods to some form of pleasure of happiness
• Similar to hedonism or Epicureanism
• Mill: we should consider to range of the type of pleasure in our attempts to decide what
the best action is
Calculating the Greatest Amount of Happiness
• Bentham: The happiness or pleasure of all who are affected by an action or practice that
is to be considered
• Five elements to calculate the greatest amount of happiness
o Pleasure minus pain
o Intensity
o Duration
o Fruitfulness
o Likelihood
Quantity vs. Quality of Pleasure
• Bentham: Consider only the quantity of pleasure or happiness brought about by various
acts
• Mill: The quality of the pleasure should also count
• Mill: Intellectual pleasures are better than sensual ones
Evaluating Utilitarianism
• Problems:
o No one can consider all the variables involved in happiness
o It is an affront to our personal integrity
o The "ends justify the means": can cause more harm than good
The Trolley Problem
• Moral dilemma
