Basic Concepts of

Utilitarianism and its

Origin
 EPICURUS (341 -
270 B.C.)

Was a greek philosopher of the
“hellenistic period.”

He was the founder of the
ancient greek philosophical
school of Epicureanism.

His metaphysics was generally
materialistic, his
epistemology was empiricist,
and his ethics was hedonistic.
 Basic Concept of Utilitarianism

Utilitarianism Utility

Is an ethical theory that 
determines right from
wrong by focusing on
outcomes. It is a form of
a “consequentialism”.
States that actions or
behaviors are right in so
far as they promote
happiness or pleasure,
wrong as they tend to
produce unhappieness or
pain.
 Types of Utilitarianism
Act Utilitarianism (Case Utilitarianism)

States that, when faced
with a choice, we must first
consider the likely
consequences of potential
actions in that particular
case and from that choose
to do what we believe will
generate the most overall
happiness.
Rule Utilitarianism

States that, when faced with a
choice, we must look at
potential rules of action to
determine wether the
generalized rule produces more
happiness than otherwise, if it
were to be constantly followed.
Thus, an action should only be
carried out if it follows a rule
that morally should be followed
at all times.
 Types of Utilitarianism
Two-Level Utilitarianism

States that, normally we should
use “intuitive” moral thinking, in
the form of Rule Utilitarianism,
because it usually maximizes
happiness. However, there are
some times we must ascend to a
higher “critical” level of reflection
in order to decide what to do, and
must think as an act utilitarian
would.
Motive Utilitarianism

States that, our initial moral task is
to inculcate motives within
ourselves (by means of teaching
and repetition) that will be
generally useful across the
spectrum of the actual situations
we are likely to encounter, rather
than hypothetical examples which
are unlikely to occur.
 Types of Utilitarianism
Total Utilitarianism

Advocates measuring the utility
of a population based on the
total utility of its members.
Average Utilitarianism

Advocates measuring the utility of a
population based on the average utility
of that populaton. The drawback here is
kown as the “mere addition paradox”
where bringing a moderately happy
person in a very happy world would be
seen as an immoral act, or the logical
implication that it would be a moral
good to eliminate all people whose
happiness is below average.
 Types of Utilitarianism
Negative Utilitarianism

Requires us to promote the
least amount of evil or
harm, to prevent the
greatest amount of
suffering, for the greatest
number (as opposed to the
general, or positive,
Utilitarian rule of the
greatest amount of good
for the greatest number.)
Sentient Utilitarianism

States that all the sentient
beings (i.e. conscious
beings who feel pain,
including therefore some
non-human animals)
deserve equal consideration
with that given to human
beings, when making moral
decisions in a Utilitarian
context.
 Nature of Utilitarianism

“What ought a man to do?”
 JOHN STUART
MILL
•
May 20, 1806
•
Pentonville, London,
England
•
British Philisopher,
Political Economist,
Civil Servant and
Exponent of
Utilitarianism
•
“The most influential
english speaking
philosopher of the
19th century”
 •
In 1861, he articulated his ethical
theory in his book,
UTILITARIANISM.
JOHN •
justify the Utilitarian principle as
STUART the foundation of morals.
MILL •
“pleasure” & “absence of pain”
 “All action is for the sake of
some end, and rules of
JOHN action, it seems natural to
STUART suppose, must take their
MILL whole character and colour
from the end to which they
are subservient.”
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 •
Actions are right in proportion as
they tend to promote happiness,
wrong as they tend to produce the
JOHN reverse of happiness.
STUART •
Some pleasures are intrinsically
more valuable than others.
MILL •
“It is better to be a human being
dissatisfied than a pig satisfied.”
•
The greatest good for the greatest
number.
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CONSEQUENTIAL ETHICS

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 •
Consequentialism is the class of
normative ethical theories holding
that the consequences of one's
conduct are the ultimate basis for
CONSEQUENTIALISM any judgment about the rightness
or wrongness of that conduct.
Thus, from a consequentialist
standpoint, a morally right act (or
omission from acting) is one that
will produce a good outcome, or
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consequence.
 •
For instance, most people
would agree that lying is
wrong. But if telling a lie
would help save a person’s
life, consequentialism says it’s
the right thing to do.

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 •
Is sometimes criticized because it can
be difficult, or even impossible, to
know what the result of an action will
be ahead of time. Indeed, no one can
know the future with certainty. Also, in
CONSEQUENTIALISM
certain situations, consequentialism
can lead to decisions that are
objectionable, even though the
consequences are arguably good.

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The girl and the sailor

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 •
Nonconsequentialism is a type of
normative ethical theory that denies
that the rightness or wrongness of
our conduct is determined solely by
the goodness or badness of the
Non- consequentialism
consequences of our acts or of the
rules to which those acts conform.
•
It also says that some kinds of action
are wrong in themselves, and not
just wrong because they have bad
consequences.
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 Two examples of
consequentialism
◈
Utilitarianism judges ◈
Hedonism says
consequences by a something is “good” if
“greatest good for the the consequence
greatest number” produces pleasure or
standard. avoids pain

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Jeremy
Bentham
And his relation to utilitarianism
 •
Born February 15, 1748. Died June 6, 1832.
•
Graduated from Oxford (1764), entered Lincoln’s Inn
afterwards.
Who is Jeremy •
English utilitarian philosopher
Bentham and •
Political & social reformer

what is his
relation to
utilitarianism?
 •
Greatly influenced by the philosophers of the
Enlightenment, mainly Locke and Hume.
•
The idea of the “Panopticon”

His works
•
Wrote Introduction to the Principles of Morals and
Legislation (1780)

and “Happiness is identified with the presence of pleasure

–

and the absence of pain”

methods
 •
Wrote A General View of a Complete Code of Laws
–
“Natural rights, real rights, permissive rights”
•
Also wrote the Handbook of Political Fallacies (1824)

His works
–
Tackles about logic and rhetoric of political debate
•
Anarchial Fallacies (1791)

and –
“Natural rights are ambiguous, sentimental, and
figurative”

methods
 •
A Fragment on Government (1776)
–
A work pertaining to rational revision of the overall
legal system. Favoring not only the community, but also
individuals.

His works •
Ethics is “the art of directing men's action to the
production of the greatest possible quantity of
and happiness, on the part of those whose interest is in
view."
methods

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The Principle of
Utility
 The Is a theory made by Jeremy Bentham due to his idea
•

that “Natural Law” Theory were outdated.

Principle of •
Sooner, John Stuart Mill built upon what Jeremy
Bentham provided.
Utility
 The Recognizes the fundamental role of pain and pleasure
•

in human life

Principle of •
Approves or disapproves of an action on the basis of
the amount of pain or pleasure brought
Utility •
Equates good with pleasure and evil with pain
•
Asserts that pleasure and pain are capable of
quantification
 John Stuart Mill adjusted the more hedonistic
tendencies in Bentham's philosophy by
emphasizing
•
It is not the quantity of pleasure, but the quality of happiness that is central to utilitarianism
•
There is a distinction between 'higher' and 'lower' pleasures
•
Utilitarianism refers to "the Greatest Happiness Principle"