Utilitarianism 1: Structure and Objections

Hedonic units

Unit to measure the amount of pleasure or pain

Hedonic utility

the net balance of pleasure over pain The hedonic utility of an act A = the amount of pleasure the act would produce minus the amount of pain the act would produce, for every person affected.

Intrinsic value

the value something has in and of itself, apart from its consequences.

Extrinsic value

the value something has in virtue of its consequences (as a means to some further end.)

Objections to utilitarianism: The problem that morality demands too much

Can utilitarianism accommodate our personal projects, desires, values and commitments?

Three types of pleasure/pain

1. Physical 2. Enjoyment (attitude) 3. Happiness (an emotion)

What is rule utilitarianism

A particular act is right if and only if it is permitted by a system of rules, the acceptance of which would maximize utility.

What is act utilitarianism

A version of act consequentialism which says that the consequences that matter are those which affect individual well-being (make individuals better or worse off.)

Hedonic Act Utilitarianism: Maximization

An act maximizes utility if and only if no other alternative act would create more utility.

The collapse for rule utilitarianism

Eventually making exceptions will lead to the idea that when deciding whether to keep your promises, perform the act that maximizes utility which is the exact same as act utilitarianism

Actual results vs. Expected results utilitarianism

Right actions are those that actually bring about the best possible results. Since these are still in the future when the action is performed, we can never be completely sure that what we are about to do is the right thing. Other utilitarians think we should be able to know the morality of our acts when we perform them, rather than having to wait until all the results are in. The rightness of an act does not depend on its actual results, but on its expected results. Acts are morally required just because they are reasonably expected to maximize utility.

What is Hedonic act utilitarianism

Roughly the view of Bentham, hedonic act utilitarianism combines a hedonistic theory of value with a act consequentialist principle of obligation. An act is right if and only if (if performed) it would maximize hedonic utility.

Irrational rule worship

Rule utilitarians demand that we obey moral rules, even when we know that breaking them would yield better results . this is irrational because rule utilitarians know in advanced that their ultimate goal will not be fulfilled.

Definition of hedonism

The only thing that is intrinsically good is pleasure and the only thing that is intrinsically bad is pain

Consequentialism

The view that what makes an action right or wrong is its consequences (results, outcome).

Objections to utilitarianism: The problem of injustice

We must maximize pleasure (or well-being) but sometimes we can do this only by committing some serious injustice. To do justice is to respect rights; to commit injustice is to violate rights. If it ever maximizes utility to violate rights, then utilitarianism requires us to do so. The correct moral theory will never require us to commit serious injustices. Utilitarianism requires us to commit serious injustices. Therefore, utilitarianism is not the correct moral theory.

Objections to utilitarianism : The problem of impartiality

impartiality suggests that no one is more important than anyone else the problem with this is that morality seems to recommend partiality It seems right that I should care more for my children than yours, more for my friends than strangers, more for my fellow citizens than those living in other countries.