PHILOSOPHY - Ethics: Utilitarianism, Part 2 [HD]

Summary

Julia Markovits, an associate professor of philosophy at MIT, explains utilitarianism, which combines a theory of value (happiness and absence of suffering) with a theory of right action (maximizing value). She discusses the appeal of utilitarianism, its simplicity, and universal application, but also highlights criticisms. A notable example involves prioritizing widespread minor inconveniences over an individual's severe suffering. This raises questions about whether the greater good justifies certain actions, such as leaving someone in pain to avoid disrupting a televised event, illustrating the moral complexities and challenges within utilitarianism.

Takeaways

• 📚 Utilitarianism is a philosophical theory that focuses on maximizing happiness and minimizing suffering as the ultimate values.
• 🔍 The theory of value in utilitarianism posits that happiness and the absence of suffering are the only intrinsic goods.
• 🤔 A critique of utilitarianism questions whether happiness alone is sufficient for a valuable life, considering the possibility of delusion.
• 🛠️ Utilitarianism's theory of right action suggests that the morally correct action is the one that maximizes overall value or expected value.
• 🏆 Utilitarianism is praised for its simplicity, elegance, and universal application, as well as its egalitarian nature, where everyone's happiness is equally valued.
• 🤝 The theory has also been influential in moral insights, particularly during times when others overlooked them.
• 🚑 The example of Jones and the World Cup highlights a moral dilemma where utilitarianism might lead to counterintuitive conclusions about the right action.
• 🔄 The transitive nature of 'less valuable than' in utilitarian reasoning can lead to situations where minor harms to many could outweigh major harms to a few.
• 🤝 Utilitarianism often leads to trade-offs in real life, such as raising speed limits for convenience despite increased fatalities.
• 🛡️ Some people believe in rights that should not be sacrificed for the greater good, challenging the utilitarian approach to moral decisions.
• 🔮 The script raises the question of whether utilitarianism can accommodate the idea that certain actions are impermissible, even if they maximize overall value.

Q & A

What is utilitarianism according to Julia Markovits?

Utilitarianism is a theory that can be divided into two parts: a theory of what is valuable, which states that only happiness and the absence of suffering are intrinsically valuable, and a theory of right action, which posits that the right action is the one that maximizes the valuable outcome or, if uncertain, produces the most expected value.

What does the utilitarian theory of value suggest about the value of happiness?

The utilitarian theory of value suggests that happiness is the only thing that is valuable in its own right, and the absence of suffering is also valuable. It implies that the pursuit of happiness and the avoidance of suffering are the ultimate goals in life.

How does utilitarianism address the concept of equality?

Utilitarianism is egalitarian in nature because it holds that each person's happiness counts for as much as anyone else's in the utilitarian calculus. This means that the well-being of every individual is considered equally important.

What is the example provided by T. M. Scanlon to illustrate a problem with utilitarianism?

T. M. Scanlon's example involves a situation where Jones has suffered an accident in a television station's transmitter room. The dilemma is whether to rescue him immediately or wait until a World Cup match is over, which raises questions about the moral implications of utilitarian decision-making.

How does the Jones example challenge the utilitarian theory of right action?

The Jones example challenges the utilitarian theory of right action by presenting a scenario where the morally right action, according to utilitarianism, might be to leave Jones in pain for the sake of avoiding minor inconvenience to a large number of people watching the World Cup match.

What is the transitive nature of 'less valuable than' in the context of utilitarianism?

The transitive nature of 'less valuable than' in utilitarianism means that if preventing a vast number of minor harms (like headaches) produces more value than preventing a smaller number of more serious harms (like sprained ankles), then preventing headaches could be considered more valuable than saving a life, given a large enough number of people affected.

How does the script suggest that utilitarianism might lead to morally questionable outcomes?

The script suggests that utilitarianism might lead to morally questionable outcomes by illustrating scenarios where the maximization of overall value could justify actions that seem morally wrong, such as leaving an injured person in pain to avoid inconveniencing a large audience.

What are some real-world examples given in the script where utilitarian thinking leads to trade-offs?

The script mentions raising the speed limit for minor convenience despite knowing it leads to more highway deaths, funding research into athlete's foot treatments instead of rare but fatal diseases, and directing aid money to programs that benefit many people a little rather than preventing death for a smaller number of people.

What is the potential objection to utilitarianism based on the rights of individuals?

The potential objection to utilitarianism is that it may violate individual rights by allowing their interests to be sacrificed for the greater good. This is based on the belief that there are certain things that should not be done or allowed to happen to people, even if it maximizes overall value.

How does the script address the potential revision of the utilitarian theory of value?

The script suggests that the utilitarian theory of value could be revised to consider not just happiness, but well-being more broadly, which could address some of the concerns about what constitutes true value in life.

What is the role of the utilitarian theory of right action in determining moral obligations?

The role of the utilitarian theory of right action in determining moral obligations is to identify the action that maximizes value as the morally right action. This theory is central to utilitarianism and is used to evaluate the moral worth of actions based on their outcomes.