[Jutice course] Lecture 3 - Utilitarianism: Jeremy Bentham

Summary

This transcript explores the utilitarian philosophy of Jeremy Bentham, emphasizing the principle of maximizing overall happiness or utility. It delves into the ethical implications of applying utilitarianism through cost-benefit analysis, exemplified by controversial cases like the Queen vs. Dudley and Stevens lifeboat case and the Ford Pinto fuel tank issue. The discussion raises questions about valuing human life in monetary terms, the treatment of minorities, and the feasibility of quantifying all values on a single scale, challenging the audience to consider the limitations and applications of utilitarian thinking.

Takeaways

• 📚 Jeremy Bentham, an English philosopher, introduced utilitarianism which focuses on maximizing overall happiness or utility.
• 🧮 Utilitarianism is often applied through cost-benefit analysis, a method used by companies and governments to assign monetary values to the benefits and costs of different proposals.
• 🚬 A controversial example of cost-benefit analysis was conducted by Philip Morris in the Czech Republic, which calculated a net gain from smoking despite the health costs.
• 🚗 The Ford Pinto case highlighted the ethical issues with cost-benefit analysis when it assigned a monetary value to human life in deciding car safety improvements.
• 💰 Critics argue that placing a dollar value on human life is inherently wrong, as some things, like life itself, are considered priceless.
• 🤔 Some participants in the discussion believe that cost-benefit analysis is necessary for making practical decisions, even if it's not perfect.
• 📉 The study by psychologist Edward Thorndike in the 1930s attempted to quantify various life experiences in monetary terms, suggesting all values can be measured.
• 🌽 The most expensive item in Thorndike's study was living in Kansas, indicating people's strong aversion to it.
• 🐛 Eating a live worm was considered more costly than having a tooth pulled, showing the subjective nature of valuing experiences.
• 🤝 The debate over utilitarianism raises questions about whether individual rights and minority interests can be adequately respected in a system that focuses on the greatest good for the greatest number.

Q & A

What is the main principle of Jeremy Bentham's utilitarian philosophy?

The main principle of Jeremy Bentham's utilitarian philosophy is to maximize the general welfare or the collective happiness, also known as maximizing utility, which is the overall balance of pleasure over pain.

How did Bentham arrive at the principle of maximizing utility?

Bentham arrived at the principle of maximizing utility by reasoning that since all humans are governed by pain and pleasure, any moral system must take account of them, and the best way to do so is by maximizing their balance.

What does the phrase 'the greatest good for the greatest number' mean in the context of utilitarianism?

In the context of utilitarianism, 'the greatest good for the greatest number' means that actions are to be evaluated based on the extent to which they maximize overall happiness or utility for the largest possible group of people.

What is cost-benefit analysis and how is it related to utilitarianism?

Cost-benefit analysis is a method used by companies and governments to evaluate the value of outcomes associated with different decision options by assigning a monetary value to the costs and benefits. It is related to utilitarianism as it attempts to quantify the overall utility of a decision or policy.

What was the outcome of the Phillip Morris study on smoking in the Czech Republic?

The Phillip Morris study found a net public finance gain in the Czech Republic of $147 million, suggesting that the government gains from citizens smoking due to tax revenues and savings on health care, pensions, and housing costs for those who die prematurely from smoking.

What was the Ford Pinto case and how does it relate to cost-benefit analysis?

The Ford Pinto case was a legal case in the 1970s where Ford was accused of not installing a safety device in their vehicles due to a cost-benefit analysis that showed the costs of installing the device outweighed the benefits. It relates to cost-benefit analysis as it exemplifies a real-world application where a company used the method to make a decision that weighed the value of human life against monetary costs.

What was the reaction to Ford's cost-benefit analysis in the Pinto case?

The reaction to Ford's cost-benefit analysis was one of shock and outrage. The jurors were appalled by the company's calculation and awarded a large settlement to the victims, indicating a societal disapproval of placing a monetary value on human life in such contexts.

What is the main concern Anna raises about utilitarianism in the transcript?

Anna's main concern is that utilitarianism might not adequately respect individual rights or minority rights, as it could lead to the interests of the minority being overridden for the sake of the majority's greater good.

What was the psychologist's name who tried to prove that all values can be translated into a single measure?

The psychologist's name who tried to prove that all values can be translated into a single measure was Edward Thorndike.

What was the most expensive item on the list in Thorndike's study?

The most expensive item on the list in Thorndike's study was living the rest of your life on a farm in Kansas, with participants stating they would require a payment of three hundred thousand dollars.

What does the controversy surrounding cost-benefit analysis reveal about the challenges of applying utilitarian principles?

The controversy surrounding cost-benefit analysis reveals challenges in applying utilitarian principles, such as the difficulty of quantifying non-monetary values like human life and suffering, and the ethical concerns of assigning monetary values to such intangibles.