Utilitarianism Bentham

Hios position on pleasures

each pleasure has equal value

Happiness

Bentham said that happiness was the supreme ethical value or what he called the sovereign good. Happiness is useful, because it is good for people to be happy. Bentham argued that we are motivated by pleasure and pain so that we pursue pleasure and avoid pain This view of happiness being linked to pleasure owes something to an earlier ethical theory called hedonism - when the only thing that is right is pleasure

Therefore what do utilitarians argue is the most important

Everyone should do the most useful thing, actions that result in maximum levels of happiness or pleasure. The actions that produce most happiness are seen as good and right actions or moral actions that produce happiness for all. Since Utilitarianism is concerned about the outcome, it is a teleological theory

The elements

Intensity, Duration, Certainty, ExtenT, propinquity, Richness, Purity In Dark Corners Edward Ponders Radical Propaganda

Act Utilitarianism

It considers the end goal as it is teleological. It considers consequences so is consequentialist. Means what ethical decisions must be based on the outcome of the actions. In this case it is about if it leads to the greatest happiness for the greatest number The term act utilitarianism is usually associated with the Utilitarianism of Bentham and use of his hedonic calculus. Bentham thought that previous experiences did not always help us make moral choices and that each situation was different, and so had to be calculated afresh. For Act Utilitarian in its strong form, the calculus must be applied, regardless of previous experiences in decision making Bentham's theory is considered to be relativistic - meaning there are no moral norms or rules and that each situation has to be looked at independently because each situation is different. Act Utilitarianism is appears to favour the individual situations more than the cases for the majority

Principle of Utility

It may be a theory concerned with the outcome. There is a rule underpinning this approach. It is the principle of utility and states that people should act to bring about a balance of good over evil. Bentham saw this as measuring whether or not an act would promote pleasure or pain. He wrote 'by the principle of utility is meant that principle which approves of every action whatsoever according to the tendency which it appears to have to augment or diminish the happiness of the party whose interest is in question'. Every action can be measured by this

The Hedonic Calculus

JeremyBentham believed that happiness consisted of pleasure minus pain. The principle of utility centred on the act delivering the greatest amount of pleasure and the least amount of pain. His solution to measuring this balance was the hedonic calculus. He thought there were seven different elements that should be taken into account when calculating the amount of happiness.

So what did these criteria show Bentham

That it was possible to work out the right course of action in any situation. The balance of pain and pleasure made by one choice of action could be compared with those created by other available choices Bentham was concerned with maximising the quantity of happiness, he was not concerned about prioritising which forms of happiness were superior to others. Bentham wrote in The Rationale of Reward that 'prejudice apart, the game of push-pin is of equal value with the arts of music and poetry'

greatest happiness principle

The greatest happiness does not necessarily involve the greatest number of people. The emphasis is more on the action that produces the greatest amount of happiness overall. What is right is what maximises happiness

Propinquity

The nearer the pleasure is to you the better

Bentham's theory of utility

The word Utilitarianism comes from the word' utility' which means 'usefulness'. It concerns itself with working out how useful an action is, based upon assessing its end result. Utilitarianism is not new, it was traced back to ancient Greece. Utilitarians argue that everyone should do the thing that produces the most useful end They apply the following reasoning Actions that produce the most happiness for all are seen as the best course of action This way of assessing which course of action is the best one to take is known as the greatest happiness principle

Jeremy Bentham background

Viewed as originator of Utillitarianism, a social reformer who sought to develop an ethical theory that promoted actions that would benefit people. He became aware of widespread injustice through his work as a barrister It caused him to be concerned with issues of public morality, and reformed prisons and advocated that penalties should not lead to unnecessary suffering. Advocated censorship and laws governing sexual activity. His guiding principle was the greatest happiness for the greatest number He formed University College in 1826

Duration

longer lasting, the better, meaning that inevitably the enduring nature of the experience of happiness is a key factor in assessing the quality of the pleasure

Certainty

more sure that pleasure will result the better

Purity

the least amount of pain it involves, the better.

Extent

the more people who experience it the better

Richness

the more percentage the pleasure will be repeated or will result in other pleasures the better

Intensity

the stronger, the better, meaning that pleasures that give an acute and extremely potent rush of pleasure bring instant happiness