What is Utilitarian Ethics?

Summary

This video explores the ethical theory of Utilitarianism, founded by Jeremy Bentham and developed by John Stuart Mill. It explains the principle of utility, which states that actions are morally right if they promote the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people. The video contrasts Bentham's quantitative approach to happiness through the 'hedonistic calculus' with Mill's emphasis on the quality of pleasures. It also explores **Act Utilitarianism** (focusing on individual actions) and **Rule Utilitarianism** (focused on moral rules), providing real-world examples such as Robin Hood and the death penalty for terrorists to illustrate these concepts.

Takeaways

• 😀 Utilitarianism is an ethical theory that evaluates actions based on their ability to promote the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people.
• 😀 Founded by Jeremy Bentham, utilitarianism argues that an action is morally right if it produces happiness and morally wrong if it produces pain.
• 😀 Bentham's 'philosophic calculus' (also called the hedonistic calculus) is used to measure the intensity, duration, and other factors of pleasure and pain caused by an action.
• 😀 The utilitarian principle is based on the balance between pleasure and pain. If the balance favors pleasure, the act is morally right; if it favors pain, the act is morally wrong.
• 😀 John Stuart Mill, a key figure in utilitarianism, disagreed with Bentham’s calculation of pleasure and pain, emphasizing the *quality* of pleasure over the *quantity*.
• 😀 Mill’s famous saying, 'It is better to be Socrates dissatisfied than a pig satisfied,' reflects his view that intellectual pleasures are superior to sensual pleasures.
• 😀 Act utilitarianism focuses on the consequences of individual actions in a specific context, judging whether an action produces the greatest happiness in that situation.
• 😀 Rule utilitarianism, on the other hand, evaluates the morality of actions based on whether they conform to rules that generally promote the greatest happiness when followed consistently.
• 😀 Utilitarianism does not consider the intention behind an action, but rather the outcome. For example, a utilitarian may justify executing a terrorist if it leads to the greatest happiness for the most people.
• 😀 In a dilemma like the death penalty, act utilitarians look at the immediate consequences, while rule utilitarians would consider whether a moral rule endorsing the death penalty would maximize overall happiness in society.

Q & A

What is the core principle of utilitarianism?

The core principle of utilitarianism is the 'principle of utility,' which holds that an act is morally right if it promotes happiness and morally wrong if it causes pain. The goal is to achieve the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people.

How does Jeremy Bentham define happiness in utilitarianism?

Jeremy Bentham defines happiness as the absence of pain. He introduced the 'hedonistic calculus' to measure the degree of pleasure or pain produced by an action, based on factors like intensity, duration, certainty, and extent.

What is the 'hedonistic calculus' and how does it relate to Bentham's utilitarianism?

The 'hedonistic calculus,' or 'philosophic calculus,' is a tool introduced by Bentham to quantify the pleasure and pain resulting from an action. It includes factors like intensity, duration, certainty, and extent, to determine whether an action produces more happiness than harm.

What is the key difference between Bentham's and Mill's approach to utilitarianism?

The key difference is that Bentham's utilitarianism focuses on calculating the quantity of pleasure and pain, while Mill's approach emphasizes the quality of pleasure, distinguishing between higher (intellectual) and lower (sensual) pleasures. Mill believes intellectual pleasures are superior.

How does John Stuart Mill view the calculation of happiness?

John Stuart Mill argues that it is impossible to calculate the exact amount of pleasure or pain produced by an action. Instead, he emphasizes the idea of 'greatest happiness for the greatest number' and focuses on intellectual pleasure as being more valuable than physical pleasure.

What does Mill mean by the phrase 'it is better to be Socrates dissatisfied than a pig satisfied'?

This phrase reflects Mill's belief that intellectual pleasures (like those experienced by Socrates) are of a higher quality than the simple physical pleasures of animals (like a pig's satisfaction). Mill suggests that the pursuit of higher pleasures leads to a more meaningful and fulfilling life, even if it involves dissatisfaction.

What is the difference between act utilitarianism and rule utilitarianism?

Act utilitarianism judges individual actions based on their specific outcomes in a given situation, focusing on maximizing happiness in each case. Rule utilitarianism, on the other hand, evaluates moral rules and holds that following rules that generally lead to the greatest happiness is morally right.

How would a rule utilitarian assess the morality of condemning a terrorist to death?

A rule utilitarian would ask whether there is a moral rule or law that justifies condemning a terrorist to death based on its utility in producing the greatest happiness. If the rule that supports this act generally promotes the greatest good, then the action is considered morally right.

Why do utilitarians believe it may be morally right to condemn a terrorist to death?

From a utilitarian perspective, condemning a terrorist to death can be morally right if it produces a net benefit for society, such as ensuring safety and happiness for the greatest number of people, even if the act itself causes harm to the individual terrorist.

What does 'greatest happiness for the greatest number' mean in utilitarian ethics?

'Greatest happiness for the greatest number' is the guiding principle of utilitarianism, which holds that the moral value of an action is determined by how much it contributes to overall happiness. An action is morally right if it benefits the largest number of people and morally wrong if it causes more harm than good.