1 3 Utilitariansim

Summary

This script explores utilitarianism, contrasting it with deontology, and focuses on the importance of consequences in determining the ethicality of actions. It explains how utilitarianism evaluates actions based on their outcomes, aiming to maximize societal well-being while minimizing harm. The script discusses challenges in utilitarian thinking, such as assessing the long-term effects of actions and the subjectivity of evaluating consequences. Real-world examples, such as child labor and everyday consumer choices, highlight the complexities of ethical decision-making within this framework. The speaker emphasizes that ethical decisions are far from straightforward, often involving multiple choices with unforeseen consequences.

Takeaways

• 😀 Utilitarianism is a consequentialist approach, where the ethics of an action depend solely on its outcomes, not the action itself.
• 😀 Unlike deontology, which values intrinsic moral principles, utilitarianism focuses on promoting the greatest good for the greatest number of people.
• 😀 The key objective in utilitarianism is to maximize human well-being, which includes factors like health, dignity, freedom, and respect for all people involved.
• 😀 Some extreme utilitarian perspectives may justify unethical actions, like killing, if the consequences result in greater societal benefits.
• 😀 The principle of utilitarianism is simple: an action is ethical if it minimizes harm and maximizes benefits for society.
• 😀 Despite its simplicity, utilitarianism becomes complex when considering alternatives and evaluating the true consequences of actions.
• 😀 A utilitarian approach involves evaluating all possible alternatives, weighing their positive and negative outcomes, and calculating the net effect.
• 😀 Utilitarianism posits that no action is inherently right or wrong; the ethics depend on the consequences and the alternatives available.
• 😀 An example of utilitarian reasoning is the debate over child labor, where benefits like reduced labor shortages may be weighed against harmful effects.
• 😀 One of the challenges of utilitarianism is predicting and evaluating the long-term consequences of actions, as well as how individuals may subjectively value these outcomes.

Q & A

What is the key difference between utilitarianism and deontology?

The key difference lies in how each theory evaluates actions. Deontology focuses on intrinsic values and moral rules, such as 'always tell the truth,' while utilitarianism is a consequentialist approach, meaning that the ethics of an action depend solely on the consequences it produces, not the action itself.

What does utilitarianism emphasize in determining whether an action is ethical or unethical?

Utilitarianism determines the ethics of an action based on its consequences. The goal is to maximize benefits and minimize harm for society as a whole, with a focus on promoting human well-being such as health, dignity, freedom, and respect.

How does utilitarianism handle situations where actions could lead to both positive and negative consequences?

Utilitarianism suggests considering all possible alternatives and weighing their potential positive and negative outcomes. The best action is the one that results in the greatest net benefit with the least harm.

What is meant by the idea that utilitarianism does not care about the intrinsic value of an action?

In utilitarianism, the morality of an action is not determined by the action itself or whether it follows a universal moral law, like in deontology. Instead, what matters is the outcome—whether the action produces a beneficial result or not.

What role do famous utilitarian philosophers like John Stuart Mill play in shaping the theory?

Philosophers like John Stuart Mill have significantly contributed to the development of utilitarianism by promoting the idea that actions should be evaluated based on their ability to maximize societal well-being, and that ethical decisions should be made by considering the overall consequences of actions.

What is a major challenge of applying utilitarianism to real-world scenarios?

A major challenge is predicting the true consequences of actions and evaluating them accurately. The uncertainty of long-term effects and subjective differences in how individuals assess outcomes make applying utilitarian principles difficult in practice.

How does utilitarianism approach complex ethical issues, like child labor?

Utilitarianism would evaluate child labor by listing all possible positive and negative outcomes. Although child labor might have immediate benefits, such as helping to alleviate labor shortages or supporting family income, utilitarians would also consider the long-term harm it might cause to the child’s health and education, making the ethical decision highly dependent on these factors.

Why is utilitarianism considered a pragmatic approach to ethics?

Utilitarianism is considered pragmatic because it encourages decision-makers to consider all possible alternatives and use objective evidence to calculate the costs and benefits of each. The best ethical choice is the one that produces the greatest overall good with the least harm.

What are the potential issues with subjectivity in utilitarianism?

Subjectivity in utilitarianism arises because different people may interpret the same consequences differently. What one person sees as beneficial, another might view as harmful, leading to potential disagreements on what actions are ethically justified.

How does utilitarianism deal with moral dilemmas, such as the value of individual lives in a situation where one life must be sacrificed to save many?

Utilitarianism deals with such moral dilemmas by weighing the overall consequences. However, this leads to complex ethical debates, as there is no clear way to universally measure the value of individual lives or determine whether sacrificing one for the greater good is ethically justifiable.