Bentham’sBentham’sUtility CalculusUtility CalculusPresented by Seth L. BlumbergPresented by Seth L. Blumberg

ENG 3060 §003ENG 3060 §003

Spring/Summer 2009Spring/Summer 2009

A universal ethical recipeA universal ethical recipe

The utility calculus (a.k.a. felicific calculus) The utility calculus (a.k.a. felicific calculus) claims to be a universal recipe for determining claims to be a universal recipe for determining the right thing to do in any situation.the right thing to do in any situation.

It takes the form of a quasi-mathematical It takes the form of a quasi-mathematical algorithm, with variables to which no actual algorithm, with variables to which no actual numbers can be assigned.numbers can be assigned.

Utility = Utility = f f (Intensity, Duration, Certainty, (Intensity, Duration, Certainty, Nearness, Fecundity, Purity, Extent)Nearness, Fecundity, Purity, Extent)

Jeremy BenthamJeremy Bentham

Late 18Late 18thth/early 19/early 19thth Century Century English philosopherEnglish philosopher

Wrote about philosophy of Wrote about philosophy of law and governmentlaw and government

One of the founders of One of the founders of UtilitarianismUtilitarianism

Invented the utility calculusInvented the utility calculusSource: Wikimedia Commons,

painting by William Henry Pickersgill (National Portrait

Gallery, London UK)

UtilitarianismUtilitarianism

Ethical system based solely on Ethical system based solely on consequences of actionsconsequences of actions

““Greatest good for the greatest number”Greatest good for the greatest number” Utility = total good or evil tendency of an Utility = total good or evil tendency of an

actionaction Bentham identified good with pleasure, Bentham identified good with pleasure,

evil with painevil with pain

The utility equationThe utility equation

Sum over all people (the Sum over all people (the ii’s) — ’s) — extentextent Sum over all kinds of pleasure/pain (the Sum over all kinds of pleasure/pain (the jj’s)’s) Six variables for each kind of pleasure or pain:Six variables for each kind of pleasure or pain:

IntensityIntensity NearnessNearness (propinquity)(propinquity)DurationDuration FecundityFecundityCertaintyCertainty PurityPurity

Positive for pleasure, negative for painPositive for pleasure, negative for pain

U = ∑i ∑j (Iij + Dij + Cij + Nij + Fij + Pij)

Using the calculusUsing the calculus

No guidance on assigning exact numbersNo guidance on assigning exact numbers Must anticipate every result of every actMust anticipate every result of every act

““It is not to be expected that this process It is not to be expected that this process should be strictly pursued previously to should be strictly pursued previously to every moral judgment…. It may, every moral judgment…. It may, however, be always kept in view”however, be always kept in view”(Bentham (Bentham 1823, p. 311823, p. 31))

IncommensurabilityIncommensurability

““[T][T]he basic human goods are all equally and he basic human goods are all equally and irreducibly basic; none of them is subordinated irreducibly basic; none of them is subordinated as mere means to any of the otheras mere means to any of the others…s…..

““[T][T]he basic human goods are not abstract he basic human goods are not abstract entities but aspects of the entities but aspects of the beingbeing of persons of persons each of whom is distinct from and no mere each of whom is distinct from and no mere means to the well-being of any other person.means to the well-being of any other person.””(Finnis 1984, p. 89)(Finnis 1984, p. 89)

Questions?Questions?

ReferencesReferences

Bentham, J. (1823). Bentham, J. (1823). An introduction to the An introduction to the principles of morals and legislation.principles of morals and legislation. 2 2ndnd ed. ed. Oxford: Clarendon Press.Oxford: Clarendon Press.

Finnis, J. (1984). Finnis, J. (1984). Fundamentals of ethics.Fundamentals of ethics. Washington, DC: Georgetown University Washington, DC: Georgetown University Press.Press.

Pickersgill, H. W. (n. d.) Jeremy Bentham, Pickersgill, H. W. (n. d.) Jeremy Bentham, painting. Retrieved June 9, 2009 from painting. Retrieved June 9, 2009 from Wikimedia Commons. Wikimedia Commons. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Jeremy_Benthahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Jeremy_Bentham_by_Henry_William_Pickersgill_detail.jpgm_by_Henry_William_Pickersgill_detail.jpg