Utilitarianism: objections

1. Utilitarianism: objections Michael Lacewing enquiries@alevelphilosophy.co.uk

2. Hedonist act utilitarianism • Act consequentialism: Actions are morally right or wrong depending on their consequences and nothing else. An act is right if it maximises what is good. • Value theory: The only thing that is good is happiness. • Equality: Everyone’s happiness counts more than anyone else’s.

3. Problems with calculation • Can we know the consequences of an action? • Bentham: • the principle of utility ‘approves or disapproves of every action whatsoever, according to the tendency which it appears to have to augment or diminish … happiness’ • It is much easier to work out the consequences that actions ‘tend’ to have • We needn’t pursue the felicific calculus every time

4. Mill’s secondary principles • Mill: happiness is ‘much too complex and indefinite’ a standard for us to apply directly to actions in many cases • But humanity has worked this out over time, giving our moral rules (‘secondary principles’) • ‘Don’t steal’: because it tends to produce more unhappiness than happiness • If two secondary principles conflict, then we should appeal to the greatest happiness principle

5. Individual liberty and rights • No type of action is ruled out as immoral • Torturing a child for fun is wrong, even in circumstances where this gives more happiness than not torturing the child • What makes it wrong is not that this balance of happiness is unlikely • Happiness isn’t always good?

6. Individual liberty and rights • Moral rights place restrictions on how people can treat each other • Right to life: other people mustn’t kill me • Right to liberty: I may act as I choose as long as this respects other people’s rights • Rights must be respected even when this does not maximize happiness • But do we have any moral rights?

7. The value of motives and character • Utilitarianism doesn’t recognize the moral value of either our motives for acting or virtuous character traits • Mill’s reply: utilitarianism says these are not relevant to whether an action is right, but that does not mean they are morally irrelevant • A good motive or virtue is one that tends to produce morally right actions • It is important to be made happy by maximizing happiness

8. Particular relationships • Everyone’s happiness counts equally. My happiness, and the happiness of those I love, has no special weight in guiding my actions • This is too idealistic (demanding) • This wrongly condemns partiality • Visiting a friend in hospital; rescuing one’s wife from drowning – just a means to maximize happiness?

9. Particular relationships • Friendship requires that the friend is valued as the individual person that they are, and that we act out of love for them • Benefiting a friend is morally good • Therefore, utilitarianism is false – it is not wrong not to maximize happiness