Sandra Rose L.

Abanes ETHICS
MMA202 September 15, 2021

Utilitarianism

1. What is utilitarianism? Differentiate Jeremy Bentham's utilitarianism with that of John

Stuart Mill.

- Utilitarianism is an ethical theory that asserts that right and wrong are best
determined by focusing on outcomes of actions and choices. Bentham considered
only quantity of pleasure, but Mill considered both quantity and quality of
pleasure.

2. What are some of the benefits and problems with having utility as the one standard by
which to judge all pleasures?

- The benefit of having utility as one of the standards by which to judge all
pleasures is the ability to make comparisons for different types of happiness and
different types of people. Utility provides a single measurement for this type of
comparison. There are also problems of having a single standard for happiness
because a person can argue that 2 kinds of pleasure are different in kind.
One can be happy being merely healthy and the other person by partying with
friends. People can remain happy but it doesn’t really show why and how they are
happy. They tend to hide suffering by being in the psychological state of
happiness. This single measurement can tend to hide both inequality and grave
sufferings.

3. Are all pleasures commensurable? Can they be evaluated on a single scale? Can some
goods, like friendships, be balanced against other goods like money? Why/why not?
 - Pleasures are not commensurable. It cannot even be evaluated on a single scale
because we cannot describe the pleasures we experience with each activity we
have. Pleasures are highly subjective. I do not think money and friendship are in
the same class of “good”. Money is a means to achieving the basic needs, not the
higher needs of completing oneself. That is why many people with a lot of money
tend to be unhappy without the pleasure that having friends and family can bring.

4. Do you think utilitarianism questions individual rights? Why/why not? What will happen
if violating the civil rights of a minority increases the sum total of pleasure of the
majority?

- I believe so since utilitarianism is about agreeing to an action as long as it benefits

the majority of the people. Utilitarianism provisions for the total pleasure of the
group and the individual within that group. All have equal rights to happiness. It
is not right to sacrifice the happiness of some to achieve greater happiness for
many. It aims to provide the means to achieve happiness for each and every
individual, at no cost

5. Do you think utilitarianism supports divorce in the Philippines? Why/why not?

- Since utilitarianism protects and enhances human rights, as well as promotes the
greatest amount of good for the greatest number of people, I believe that it will
not support divorce in the Philippines. Divorce involves marriage and children. It
has great implications to children. Although divorce is being agreed by the
husband and wife, it is still considerable that only one partner aims to achieve this
purpose and that deviates the belief of utilitarianism.