Main 2 Features of utilitarianism
1. Consequential principle
a. The rightness or wrongness of an act is determined by the goodness or badness of
the results that flow fron it
b. The ends, not the means, counts.
2. Ultility Principle
a. The only thing that is good in itself is some specific state of affairs such as
pleasure, happiness, welfare.
b. Outcome determines rightness
c. Pleasure=good
d. Pain=evil
Hedonic Calculus
- Intensity
- Duration
- Certainty
- Nearness
- Fruitfulness
- Purity
- Extent
All these things combined= pleasure or pain
John Stuart Mill
- Critique of government power
- Harm principle
- Political causes included freeing slaves and womens rights
- Advocated economic democracy
That action is best, which procures the greatest happiness for the greatest numbers.
Greatest Utiliitarianism- Happiness
- principle of utility
- Greatest happiness for the greatest number of people
- Eudaimonistic Utilitarianism: From Greek eudaimonia=happiness
- Happiness=pleasure and the absence of pain
- Higher pleasures over lower pleasures
Act Utilitarianism
- Act: And act is right if and only if it results in as much good as any available alternative
o Spontaneity
o Speed
o Minimally correct behavior
-
Rule Utilitarianism
Rule: and act is right if and only if it is required by a rule that is itself a member of a set
of rules whose acceptance would lead to greater utility for society than any available
alternative
o Maximize utility
o Coordinated actions
Rule Utilitarianism
- Base Rules
- Conflict-Resolving Rules
- Remainder Rule (Act Utilitarianism)
Peter