CONSEQUENTIALISM

AND
UTILITARIANISM
 “Nature has placed mankind under the
governance of two sovereign masters, PAIN and
PLEASURE. It is for them alone to point out what
we ought to do, as well as to determine what we
shall do” –Jeremy Bentham

 “By ‘Happiness,’ is intended pleasure, and th6e

absence; by ‘Unhappiness,’ pain, and privation of
pleasure.”-Johnm Stuart Mill
 Aristippus and Epicurus

 Hedonism focuses on pain and pleasure as what particularly

and principally matters in moral decision-‐making and
practical reasoning. Pleasure is understood as the primary
good and the goal of life, pain as the primary evil, what
human beings out to avoid, prevent, and minimize. But not
all hedonists are the same.

 Aristippus (founder of the Cyrenaic school) and Epicurus

(founder of the Epicurean school) develop two quite
different perspectives in Hedonist moral theory:
 Intensity of pleasures and pains
 Aristippus
(Cyrenaic school) Physical pleasures and pains are
more intense than mental pleasures and pains
 Carpie Diem
 Active pleasure has something to do with the fact
that life is uncertain and short.
 The most intense sensual pleasure of the momnt
becomes preferable to other pleasures.
 It should be us that should control our pleasures not
our pleasures should control us
 Epicurus (founder of the Epicurean school)

 Experience shows us that the desire for life filled with

intense pleasures will be frustrated, because there are nt
enough of them in the ordinary course of events
 The gratification of desires is more difficult to sustain than
the absence of pain, favors passive pleasures than active
 Mental tranqulity is a pleasure of great value and it is
pointless to worry about or fear our death..
 What is between pleasure and pain?

 There are only pleasures and pains, no middle state.

Pleasure is a calm, smooth state, pain is a troubled,
rough motion

 There is a middle, calm state between pleasures and

pains, both. Removal of pain, rest, is a more intense
pleasurable stat
 What human happiness is
 Happiness is a sort of sum total of particular
pleasures, but it can only be experienced in the
present, so the happy life is one which has as many
pleasures and possible both in the present and in the
future

 Happiness is a state of being untroubled by mental

or physical pains. Best realized in living simply, with
few physical pleasures, but spending time with
friends in pleasurable mental activities, e.g.
conversations
 Restrictions on kinds of pleasure

 Since pleasures are simply good, it doesn’t matter

whether they are unseemly or socially disapproved
of – simply enjoy them!

 One should avoid pleasures that require pains or

bring pains as consequences, restrict oneself to
pleasures that are natural and necessary
 Characteristic lifestyle of
theory

 Life devoted to pursuing physical pleasures and

avoiding Physical pains as much as possible

 Life devoted to pursuing mental pleasures, removing

mental and physical pains
 Virtues and their Uses

 Prudence is good – leads to pleasures away from

pains Wisdom may be useful Friendship is desired for
sake of pleasures that result from it

 A good life requires that one live with and therefore

cultivate Prudence, Justice, Wisdom Friendship is
desirable, and also provides security from pains
 Virtues and their Uses

 Prudence is good – leads to pleasures away from

pains Wisdom may be useful Friendship is desired for
sake of pleasures that result from it

 A good life requires that one live with and therefore

cultivate Prudence, Justice, Wisdom Friendship is
desirable, and also provides security from pains
UTILITARIANISM
 PRINCIPLE OF UTILITY: The principle of
utility states that actions or behaviors
are right in so far as they promote
happiness or pleasure, wrong as they
tend to produce unhappiness or pain.
So even if it would cause greater
happiness, you shouldn't do it if it
would cause pain.
 Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832)
 who gave this theory its most exhaustive development in his work
“An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation”
published in 1789. In this work Bentham sought to answer two basic
questions from a
 materialist perspective. “What is good for man?” and therefore “What
is right or wrong to do and why?”

 Bentham’s theory of morality can be crystallized in the following

thesis.
 Man’s highest good is to achieve the most pleasure and least pain
possible in each moment and therefore the best thing he can do in life
will be whatever helps him achieve this end. In short, morality rests in
the end and not in the agent or means.
 The Natural Good for Man
First he tells us that the natural good for man is whatever causes him the
most pleasure and avoids the most pain.

 The Best Action

Secondly he tells us that therefore the best action is therefore whatever
brings about the consequence of heightened pleasure and decreased pain.
Therefore by extension the good for society is the maximization of
pleasure and the minimization of pain for as many people as possible.

 Measuring Pleasure and Pain

Now since we are seeking the most pleasure possible Bentham posits that
there must be a means by which to measure the quantity of the pleasure we
are or may experience to help us in making our decisions. He provides us with
seven criteria. The first four help us measure our own pleasure and the final
three help us judge the pleasure of others. The first four are intensity,
duration, certainty, and proximity. The final three are fecundity, purity, and
extension.
 Calculus of Felicity

 Intensity (I)–How intense is the pleasure or pain?

 Duration (D)–How long does the pleasure of pain last?
 Certainty (C)–What is the probability that the pleasure or pain
will occur?
 Propinquity (nearness or remoteness) (N)–How far off in the
future is the pleasure or pain?
 Fecundity (F)–What is the probability that the pleasure will
lead to other pleasures?
 Purity (P)–What is the probability that the pain will lead to
other pains?
 Extent (E)–How many persons are affected by the pleasure?
 John Stewart Mills (1806-1873)

 Mills thesis can be crystallized as follows: man’s highest

good is the pursuit of his best welfare. This welfare is
defined by what is most useful, or qualitatively and
quantitatively pleasurable. He too holds that the morality
of a thing lies in the end rather than the means or agent.
 Distinction Between Quality and Quantity of Pleasure
 Through the addition of “quality of pleasure” Mills is able to
explain the fact that many times we choose goods that are
less in objective quantity or perhaps even painful

 Best Welfare and Most Pleasure

Mills also pointed out that man’s highest good is not always
what is most pleasurable but rather what is most “useful” for
him. Pleasure could very well be the most useful at times, but it
is only one aspect. For Mills then the good for man is not the
greatest pleasure and least pain, but the “best overall welfare”.

 Greatest Overall Welfare

Mills also holds that part of seeking our own greatest welfare
is also the seeking of the highest welfare of all others.
 Contentment vs. Happiness
John Mills also makes a distinction between contentment
and happiness. For Mills contentment comes from fulfilling our
desires, but happiness comes from fulfilling our best welfare.
Mills holds that this end is of greater quality and hence holds
preference over and guides the fulfillment of our desires.

 Choosing Intermediate Goods

Mills answers that since our passions are very strong and
the lesser pleasures are more numerous and immediate we
can easily become habituated to them and lose sight of the
higher goods.
 Is it justifiable to let go of some
rights for the sake of
the benefit of the majority
 JUSTICE - Mill understands justice as a respect for rights directed
towrad society’s pursuit for the greatest happiness of the greatest
number.
 RIGHTS - Are a valid claim on society and are justified by utility.
examples:
 Right to due process
 Right to free speech or religion
 - Rights serve general happiness, and are justified because they
contribute to the general good. This means that society is made happier
if its citizens are able to live their lives knowing that their interests are
protected and that society, as a whole, defends it.
 - A right is justifiable on utilitarian principles inasmuch as they produce
an overall happiness that is greater than the unhappiness resulting from
their implementation
 Types of Utilitarianism

 There are basically two branches of utilitarianism. They both

agree that the goal of ethics is to maximize happiness.
 But they disagree on where that decision should be applied:\
 Act Utilitarianism argues that we should always choose our
actions based on what will cause the greatest amount of
happiness.
 Rule Utilitarianism argues that we should figure out what sort
of behavior usually causes happiness, and turn it into a set of
rules.
References:

Ebenstein, William, 1910-1976. Great Political

Thinkers: Plato to the Present. [New York] :Rinehart, 1956.

Evangelista Francis Julius N. and Mabaquiao

Napoleon M. Jr, Ethics: Theories and Applications,
Mandaluyong City, Anvil Publishing Inc. 2020
Assessment

1. In an essay what is more attainable to fulfill?

Sensual Pleasures or Mental Tranquility?

2. Another essay: Is Covid Vaccination a Utilitarian

approach? Why?