Utilitarianism

GROUP 2
What is Utilitarianism?
It is an ethical theory that argues that the
goodnes of pleasure and the determination of
right behavior is based on the usefulness of the
action’s consequences.
It comes from the root word “UTILITY”, which
refers to the USEFULNESS of the consequences
of one’s action and behavior.
What is Utilitarianism?
Utilitarianism determines right from wrong by
focusing on outcomes. It is a form of
consequentialism.
Consequentialism - is the branch of ethics that
holds that the rightness or wrongness of an action
is dependent on its results.
What is Utilitarianism?
Utilitarianism holds that what’s ethical (or moral) is
whatever maximizes TOTAL happiness while
minimizing total pain.
The word TOTAL is important here: if you act ethically
according to utilitarianism, you’re not maximizing your
happiness, but the total happiness of the whole human
race.
The main idea of utilitarian ethics is: secure the greatest
good for the greatest number.
Types of Utilitarianism
1. Act Utilitarianism argues that we should always
choose our actions based on what will cause the
greatest amount of happiness.
2. Rule Utilitarianism argues that we should figure out
what sort of behavior usually causes happiness, and
turn it into a set of rules.
Types of Utilitarianism
Example:
Take the example of a judge sending a murderer to prison.
Say the judge knows the convict will not commit any more
violent crimes and wants to be lenient based on this
knowledge (maybe the convict is very old or terminally
ill). The judge knows that this will make the convict very
happy, not to mention their family and friends. Imagine
that the victim’s family has forgiven the convict and will
not feel pain as a result of this decision.
Types of Utilitarianism
Example:
Another example for utilitarianism is the Mamasapano
case.
Limitations of Utilitarianism
Utilitarianism also has trouble accounting for values such
as justice and individual rights
Example: Assume a hospital has four people whose lives
depend upon receiving organ transplants: a heart, lungs, a
kidney, and a liver. If a healthy person wanders into the
hospital, his organs could be harvested to save four lives
at the expense of one life.
Limitations of Utilitarianism
Another example:
The Trolley Problem
Imagine there is a trolley heading toward a group of 5
workers on the tracks. You are sitting in a control center
several miles away, and you have a button that can switch
the trolley onto another track where there’s only 1 worker.
If you flip the switch, one person will die. If you do
nothing, 5 people will die. Should you flip the switch?
 Four Theses of Utilitarianism
• Consequentialism: The rightness of action is determined solely
by their consequences.
• Hedonism: The utility is the degree to which an act produce
pleasure. Hedonism is the thesis that pleasure or happiness is the
good that we seek and that we should seek.
• Maximalism: A right action produces good and the least bad.
• Universalism: The consequences to be considered are those of
everyone affected, and everyone equally.
 Principles of Utilitarianism
• Principle of Utility • Principle of the Greatest Number
The best action is that which We ought to do that which
produces the greatest happiness produces the greatest happiness
and/or reduces pain. and least pain for the greatest
number of people.
Two Most Important Classical Utilitarians

Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832) John Stuart Mill (1806-1873)

 Jeremy Bentham
• According to Bentham, the most acts are those that maximize
pleasure and minimize pain.
• This has sometimes been called the “Utilitarian Calculus”. An act
would be moral if it brings the greatest amount of pleasure and the
least amount of pain.
• Bentham said: ‘An act is right if it delivers more pleasure than pain
and wrong if it brings about more pain than pleasure’
• By adding up the amounts of pleasure and pain for each possible act
we should be able to choose the good thing to do.
 Bentham’s Utility
• Bentham's Utilitarianism is a universal hedonism.
• What is right is calculated to bring about greatest balance of
good over evil, where good is as defined as pleasure or
happiness.
• Bentham's view is described as Act Utilitarianism.
• Bentham argued that we should be guided by the principle of
utility and not by rules.
John Stuart Mill
Defines utilitarianism as a theory based on the principle that
"actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote
happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of
happiness."
Some kinds of pleasure are more desirable and more
valuable than others.
Mill differs Bentham's quantitative approach.
Quality of Pleasure
• According to Mill, quality of pleasure employs the use of
higher faculties.
• He is answering the objection to Benthman's approach that
utilitarians are just pleasure-seekers.
• Mills says that the quality of pleasure that satisfies a human
is different from that which satisfies an animal.
Bentham vs. Mill
• Bentham • Mill
1. The greatest good (pleasure) 1. The greatest happiness for
for the greatest number the greater number
2. Focused on the individual 2. We should protect the
alone common good, universalistic
3. Quantitative - Hedonic 3. Qualitative - Higher Lower
Calculus Pleasure
4. Act Utilitarianism 4. Rule Utilitarianism
5. In search of maximization of 5. Consequentialist
happiness
6. Consequentialist
Is the Mamasapano case approached using a
qualitative or quantitative method?
Justice and Moral Rights
 Justice
In utilitarianism, justice is typically defined as the fair
distribution of benefits and burdens within a society or among
individuals in a way that maximizes overall happiness or utility.
Justice, in this context, is not an intrinsic or absolute value but
rather a means to achieve the greatest good for the greatest
number of people.
It involves ensuring that the rules, laws, and social structures in
a society are designed to promote the overall well-being of its
members.
 Moral Rights
In utilitarianism, moral rights are understood as claims or
entitlements that individuals have, based on social agreements
or principles, which should be respected and protected because
doing so contributes to the overall happiness or utility.
Moral rights are not considered inherent or absolute; instead,
they are contingent on their ability to promote the greater
good.
Strengths and Weaknesses
of Utilitarianism
 Strengths
• It is straightforward and based on the single principle of
minimizing pain and maximizing pleasure and happiness
• It relates to actions which can be observed in the real
world.
• Its consequentialism is also a strength, as when we act it
only natural to weigh up the consequences.
• Utilitarianism's acceptance of the universal principle is
essential for any ethical system.
• The idea of promoting the 'well-being' of the greatest
number is also important.
 Weaknesses
• The qualitative and quantitative approaches pose
problems
• Utilitarianism does not consider motives and
intentions and so rejects the principle of treating
people with intrinsic value. Utilitarianism can be seen
as too impersonal and does not consider the rights of
individuals in its attempt to look for the' greater
good.'
Problems of Utilitarian Morality
The Utilitarian theory as a theory of life lies in its
emphasis of human welfare as the ultimate standard
of right and wrong. However its strength is at the
same time its weakness. The utilitarian theory treats
everything as conditional and subservient to utility.
Violations of human rights and other unethical acts
become morally justifiable, as long as they promote
the utilitarian tenet of the greatest happiness of the
greatest number of people.
Thank you for
listening!
Members
Daño, Stephanie Kyle A.
Cabahug, Sean Justine O.
Alera, Jeffrey C.
Usman, Bennix T.
Lingayen, Dan Gabriel C.
Tan, Love Jay L.