1 / 21

Lecture 24: Utilitarianism

Lecture 24: Utilitarianism. Two types of ethical theory. Ethics. Teleological. Deontological. The moral value of an action is entirely based on its results or consequences. Emphasises duty or the inherent moral value of an action, not the consequences.

katy
Download Presentation

Lecture 24: Utilitarianism

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Lecture 24: Utilitarianism

  2. Two types of ethical theory Ethics Teleological Deontological The moral value of an action is entirely based on its results or consequences Emphasises duty or the inherent moral value of an action, not the consequences. All ethical theories fall under one or both of these categories

  3. General features of Utilitiarianism • Utilitarianism is a teleological ethical theory, this means: • Moral and immoral actions are distinguished by their results and consequences alone • Utilitarianism makes no appeal to the motives or inherent value of an action • There are three ‘stages’ within Utilitarianism: • “The doctrine that we ought to act so as to promote the greatest balance of good over evil” (p.375) • “The doctrine that we ought to act so as to promote the greatest balance of pleasure over pain” (p.375) • “The doctrine that we ought to act so as to promote the greatest happiness for the greatest number” (p.376) Utilitarianism

  4. The principle of utility states: • “The greatest amount of happiness for the greatest number of people” • Moral actions are those that bring the greatest amount of happiness to other people • Happiness and a lack of pain is the only valid criteria for a measure of moral value • A Utilitarian must ask two questions: How happy? and How many? • Allows one to sacrifice their own or individual interests for the sake of others • For example: • Can we sacrifice one to save many? Utilitarianism

  5. Why happiness? • The principle of utility does not state: • “The greater good for the greater number of people” • Why is happiness a better criterion for a moral action than the “good”? • For example, • Why should we be so concerned about happiness? • Isn’t it the case that some people need what is good for them, not what makes them happy? • What is wrong with using happiness as a criterion? Utilitarianism

  6. Version 1: Bentham

  7. Bentham’s utilitarianism • Bentham assumes that human’s are motivated by the desire to attain pleasure and to avoid of pain (hedonism) • Our faculty of reason means that we can discuss and give advice as to the best way to pursue our goal to achieve the most pleasure while avoiding the most pain • The value of a moral action is based on its consequences in accordance with our desired goals • A moral action is one that brings the most pleasure and the least painAn immoral action is one that brings more pain and less pleasure • The only relevant factor is the quantity of happiness Bentham

  8. Bentham employs the “Calculus of Felicity” as a guide to calculating the moral worth of an action: Intensity—How Intense? Duration—How Long? Certainty—How Sure? Propinquity—how soon? Fecundity—how many more? Purity—How Free From Pain? Extent—How Many People are affected? Textbook P.377 Bentham

  9. Version 2: Mill’s Utilitarianism

  10. Bentham claims: • All pleasures are equal • For example, the pleasure from scratching an itch might be just as good as the pleasure from reading a good book • The calculus of felicity can only calculate pleasures based on quantity • Mill’s criticism: • If all pleasures are seen to be equal, and only quantity matters, everyone would end up going for easy pleasures; culture would be lost Mill’s Criticism of Bentham

  11. Mill proposes the following solution: Pleasures should be divided between higher and lower pleasures Higher desires, even if they are more difficult to attain, are to be preferred over lower desires because their quality is superior to lower desires, no matter the quantity Is this a form of cultural fascism? Mill’s Solution

  12. Testing Utilitarianism

  13. What moral value would Utilitarians place on the following actions: Evaluation of Utilitarianism Action: Giving Candy to my Students Action: Giving Candy to my Students Action: Students are executed for failure Action: Sacrificing One Individual to Save Many 1% of Students are executed Candy is given to students Candy is given to students Aliens Demand Human Sacrifice 99% of Students do very well Students enjoy Candy Candy makes students sick Paul Harris is Sacrificed Consequences: More Students are happier Consequences: More students are unhappy Consequences: More Students are happier Consequences: The Earth is Saved; Everyone is Happier

  14. Problems for Utilitarianism: The case of Sam Sam goes to the hospital for a routine visit The doctor realizes that Sam’s healthy organs could be used to save the lives of five other patients Option 1: The doctor can let Sam live but five other patients will die Option 2: The doctor arranges for Sam to die so that he can save his five other patients Which option should a Utilitarian choose? Why is this a problem for Utilitarianism? Evaluation of Utilitarianism

  15. Problems for Utilitarianism: Jim and the Indians Read the box on p.390 of the textbook Given this situation, what should Jim do according to Utilitarinism? What would you do? What does this show about Utilitarianism? Evaluation of Utilitarianism

  16. Are the following moral or immoral according to Utilitarianism? • Murder • Lying • Stealing • Cheating in exams • Invading foreign nations • Slavery • Oppressing women • In all cases the moral value depends on: • How much happiness is generated • How many people it affects Evaluation of Utilitarianism

  17. Act & Rule Utilitarianism

  18. Contemporary Utilitarian’s distinguish between two forms of Utilitarianism: Act and Rule Utilitarianism Textbook p.380. Why might this distinction improve Utilitarianism? Why might this be a problem for Utilitarianism?

  19. Are the following moral or immoral according to Rule-Utilitarianism? • Murder • Lying • Stealing • Cheating in exams • Invading foreign nations • Slavery • Oppressing women • According to rule-utilitarianism the morality of each case depends on: • 1)How much happiness would be generated • How many people it affects • If everyone did these things Evaluation of Utilitarianism

  20. Discussion

  21. What is the principle of Utility? Is the principle of utility an appropriate way to distinguish between moral and immoral actions? Is utilitarianism better suited to some situations over others? What are the problems with Utilitarianism? Does the distinction between rule and act Utilitarianism improve Utilitarianism? Discussion

More Related