Utilitarismo - Bentham e Stuart Mill

Summary

The script delves into the moral dilemmas faced by a doctor, exploring the utilitarian theory of ethics. It contrasts two moral perspectives: consequentialism, focusing on the outcomes of actions, and deontological ethics, emphasizing duties and rights. Utilitarianism, advocated by Jeremy Bentham, is highlighted as a simple yet compelling approach to justice, aiming to maximize happiness for the greatest number. The script discusses calculating utility, considering pleasure, pain, and their intensity, duration, certainty, and proximity. John Stuart Mill's version of utilitarianism, incorporating the principle of individual liberty, is also examined, adding nuance to the theory.

Takeaways

• 😀 The script discusses a moral dilemma faced by a doctor, highlighting the choice between saving one severely injured patient or treating five with minor injuries, with the majority opinion being to save the severely injured.
• 🤔 It presents a modified scenario where the doctor has the option to sacrifice one healthy patient to provide organs for five others in urgent need of transplants, questioning the morality of such an action.
• 🔍 Two types of moral thinking are introduced: consequentialism, which focuses on the outcomes of actions, and deontological ethics, which emphasizes duties and rights regardless of outcomes.
• 📚 Utilitarianism is explained as a theory of justice that seeks the greatest good for the greatest number, with Jeremy Bentham's principle of utility being central to its philosophy.
• 🌟 Utilitarianism is described as relatively simple and interesting, focusing on maximizing happiness and pleasure, and minimizing pain and suffering.
• 📈 The concept of utility is defined as the property that produces benefit, pleasure, or happiness, and Bentham's four circumstances for calculating utility are mentioned: intensity, duration, certainty, and proximity.
• 🏛 John Stuart Mill is introduced as a utilitarian who advocated for a more nuanced approach, incorporating the principle of individual liberty and limiting societal interference.
• 🚀 Mill's principle of liberty suggests that individuals should not be accountable to society for their actions unless they harm others, contrasting with the more extreme utilitarian view.
• 🛑 The script uses the famous 'trolley problem' to illustrate utilitarian decision-making, where sacrificing one to save five is considered the morally correct action.
• 🤯 It also discusses the potential tyranny of utilitarian thought, where the ends justify the means, even if it involves extreme actions like pushing a person off a bridge to stop a runaway trolley.
• 🌐 The script concludes by emphasizing utilitarianism's simplicity and its applicability to both individual and public justice, as well as its influence on policy and ethical decision-making.

Q & A

What dilemma does the doctor face in the initial scenario presented in the script?

The doctor faces a moral dilemma of whether to save one severely injured patient or to treat five patients with minor injuries.

What is the majority's obvious response to the doctor's dilemma in the first scenario?

The majority's response is that the doctor should attend to the severely injured person.

How does the script change the scenario to introduce the concept of utilitarianism?

The scenario changes to a situation where the doctor has five patients in need of urgent organ transplants and one healthy patient with a minor arm injury, raising the question of whether it's morally right to take the organs from the healthy patient to save the five others.

What are the two types of moral thinking presented in the script?

The two types of moral thinking are consequentialism, which focuses on the consequences of an act, and deontological ethics, which focuses on the inherent rightness of an act regardless of the consequences.

Who is the main proponent of deontological ethics mentioned in the script?

Immanuel Kant is the main proponent of deontological ethics mentioned in the script.

What is utilitarianism and why is it considered a simple theory to understand?

Utilitarianism is a theory of justice that proposes the right action is the one that maximizes overall happiness or pleasure. It is considered simple because it focuses on the principle of utility and requires calculating the utility of different actions to determine the best course of action.

Who is considered the father of utilitarianism and what does he define as utility?

Jeremy Bentham is considered the father of utilitarianism. He defines utility as the property of any object that tends to produce or provide beneficial pleasure, happiness, or well-being, or to prevent harm, pain, evil, or unhappiness for those whose interests are considered.

What is the core principle of utilitarianism as described in the script?

The core principle of utilitarianism is to do the greatest good for the greatest number of people, which is often referred to as 'the greatest happiness principle'.

How does the script address the problem of calculating utility in utilitarianism?

The script mentions that calculating utility is challenging and requires considering the intensity, duration, certainty, and proximity of the pleasure or pain resulting from an action.

What is the 'trolley problem' and how does utilitarianism approach it?

The trolley problem is a hypothetical scenario where a runaway trolley is heading towards five people, and one person has the option to divert the trolley onto another track, where it would kill one person instead. Utilitarianism would suggest pulling the lever to save the greater number of people, thus causing the death of one to prevent the death of five.

Who is John Stuart Mill and how does he contribute to the utilitarianism theory?

John Stuart Mill is a disciple of Jeremy Bentham and a proponent of a more moderate and flexible form of utilitarianism. He introduced the principle of liberty, arguing that individuals should not be accountable to society for their actions as long as they do not harm others, and that government interference should only be to prevent harm to others, not to maximize utility.

How does the script illustrate the conflict between utilitarianism and individual liberty in the context of a bomb threat?

The script presents a scenario where a police officer has a person who knows the location of a bomb about to explode in a shopping center. While a classical utilitarian might argue for torturing the person to save many lives, Mill's version of utilitarianism would oppose this, arguing that torturing the individual infringes upon their liberty, even if it could prevent greater harm.