lecture 2 b utilitarianism

8/7/2019 Lecture 2 B Utilitarianism

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Utilitarianism


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E thical Judgments

Ethical philosophy differs from the sciencesbecause it is normative or prescriptive , ratherthan descriptive .In other words, ethics tell us how we ought toact or what we should do , while the sciencesare more likely to observe how things are innature or society


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M aking E thical Judgments in

UtilitarianismU tilitarianism says that the R esult or theConsequence of an Act is the real measure of whether it is good or bad.

This theory emphasizes Ends over M eans.T

heories, like this one, that emphasize theresults or consequences are called teleologicalor consequentialist


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Ethical theoriesVirtue theory

Teleological Deontological

Greek Telos ( End ) Greek-- deon (duty)Actions are justified by virtue of Obligation or duty e.g. manufacturer has

end they achieve an obligation to honor a warranty ona defective pdct even if the cost exceeds

the benefit of satisfying a customer .


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Jeremy Bentham


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B entham s Formulation of Utilitarianism

M an is under two great masters, pain andpleasure.

The great good that we should seek is happiness.(a hedonistic perspective. Hedonistic derivedfrom greek word for pleasure )

Those actions whose results increase happinessor diminish pain are good. They have utility.


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Four Theses of Utilitarianism

Consequentialism: The rightness of actions isdetermined solely by their consequences.H edonism: U tility is the degree to which an actproduces pleasure. Hedonism is the thesis thatpleasure and only pleasure is ultimately good .M aximalism : A right action produces the greatestgood consequences and the least bad.Universalism: The consequences to beconsidered are those of everyone affected, andeveryone equally.


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Two Types of Utilitarianism

R ule : An action is rightif and only if it conformsto a set of rules thegeneral acceptance of which would producethe greatest balance of

pleasure over pain forthe greatest number.(John Stuart M ill)

A ct : An Action isright if and only if itproduces thegreatest balance of pleasure over painfor the greatest

number. (JeremyBentham)


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A pplication of Utilitarian Theory

A) You attempt tohelp an elderly manacross the street.He gets acrosssafely.Conclusion : the Actwas a good act.

B) You attempt to helpan elderly man acrossthe street. You stumbleas you go, he isknocked into the pathof a car, and is hurt.

Conclusion : The Actwas a bad act.


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A pplication of Utilitarian Theory

If you can use eighty soldiers as a decoy in war,and thereby attack an enemy force and killseveral hundred enemy soldiers, that is amorally good choice even though the eightymight be lost.If lying or stealing will actually bring aboutmore happiness and/or reduce pain, ActU tilitarianism says we should lie and steal inthose cases.


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A pplication of Utilitarian TheoryA ctual Cases

The decision at Coventry during WWII . The decision was made not to inform the town that

they would be bombed.

The Ford Pinto case: A defective vehicle wouldsometimes explode when hit.

The model was not recalled and repaired by Fordbecause they felt it was cheaper to pay the liabilitysuits than to recall and repair all the defective cars.


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Criticisms of B entham s theoryBentham s theory could mean that if 10 peoplewould be happy watching a man being eaten bywild dogs, it would be a morally good thing for

the 10 men to kidnap someone (especiallysomeone whose death would not cause grief tomany others) and throw the man into a cage of wild, hungry dogs.


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John Stuart M ill sA djustments to

UtilitarianismM ill argues that we must consider the quality of the happiness, not merely the quantity .

For example, some might find happiness with apitcher of beer and a pizza. Others may find

happiness watching a fine Shakespearean play.The quality of happiness is greater with thelatter.


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M ill s Quality A rguments

It is better to be a human being dissatisfiedthan a pig satisfied; better to be Socratesdissatisfied than a fool satisfied. And if thefool, or the pig, are of a different opinion, it isbecause they only know their own side of thequestion. The other party to the comparison

knows both sides.


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M ill s Quality A rguments

As between his own happiness and that of others, utilitarianism requires him to be asstrictly impartial as a disinterested andbenevolent spectator. In the golden rule of Jesus of Nazareth, we read the completespirit of the ethics of utility. To do as you

would be done by, and to love yourneighbor as yourself, constitute the idealperfection of utilitarian morality.


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Criticisms of Utilitarianism

If I am to bring the greatest happiness to thegreatest number, not putting my own happinessabove others, that may lead to a dilemma. I livein a neighborhood where 83% of my neighborsuse drugs. I could make them most happy byhelping supply them with cheap drugs, but I feel

uncomfortable doing that. What should autilitarian do?


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Criticisms of U tilitarianism

Bernard Williams criticizes the implieddoctrine of negative responsibility inU tilitarianism. For example, a thug breaksinto my home and holds six people hostage,

telling us he will kill all of us. However, thethug says, if you will kill two of your family, I will let you and the other three live.With U tilitarianism, the good thing to do is tokill two members of my family.


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Criticisms of Utilitarianism

U tilitarianism plays fast and loose with God scommandments. If lying, stealing, or killingcould lead to an increase of happiness for thegreatest number, we are told we should lie,steal or kill. Isn t that a rejection of God scommands?


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Utilitarianism Cost B enefit A nalysisIt is a powerful & widely accepted ethicaltheory that has special reference to problemsin business .

Any project in which the dollar amount of thebenefits exceeds the dollar amount of thedamages is worth pursuing , according to cost-

benefit analysis and from the various projectsthe one which that promises the greatest netbenefits , as measured in dollars , ought to bechosen.


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lecture 2 b utilitarianism

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