Contemporary Ethical Theories

Thought Experiment for Preference Utilitarianism

Cont.
Cont.
Introduction
The utilitarian perspectives of Jeremy
Bentham and John Stuart Mill as
Hedonistic Utilitarianism.
• The primary concern: consequences
must lead to the greatest PLEASURE
of the greatest number.
Preference and Pluralistic
Utilitarianism are Non-Hedonistic
Utilitarianism.
• Both reject that pleasure/pain are the
only intrinsic good/bad.
• Preference Utilitarianism – pleasure
is NOT the intrinsic good.
• Pluralistic Utilitarianism – pleasure
is NOT THE ONLY intrinsic good.
Proponents of Preference Utilitarianism
Proponents of Pluralistic Utilitarianism
 Preference Utilitarianism

Primary concern: SATISFACTION OF PREFERENCES

Preferences = desires or interests Satisfaction of Preferences is the INTRINSIC GOOD.

Pleasure is under PREFERENCES.

An action is morally right if it serves the greatest satisfaction of preferences for the greatest number of
people.
Cont.
Thought Experiment for Pluralistic Utilitarianism
PLURALISTIC UTILITARIANISM

There are other intrinsic goods aside from

pleasure.
• Beauty, Knowledge, Power, Friendships, etc.

An action is morally right if it

maximizes any of these intrinsic
goods.
How can a certain thing be
desirable, yet independent
of pleasure?
Cont.

The other intrinsic

The right attitude goods are desirable,
towards a person in even if no one is
misery. deriving pleasure
from them.
SUMMARY

Preference and Pluralistic Utilitarianism as Non-Hedonistic.

Preference Utilitarianism – pleasure is NOT the intrinsic good,

but PREFERENCE.

Pluralistic Utilitarianism – pleasure is NOT THE ONLY intrinsic

good.