What’s Good on T.V.

Presentation
Utilitarianism in The Incredibles
Jared Polivka
Professor Burleson
Introduction to Ethics
8 August 2021
What is Utilitarianism
• Ethical theory/theories that promote happiness and
pleasure
• The doctrine that actions are “right” if they are useful
or for the benefit of the majority
• Form of consequentialism; judged and based solely by
its consequences
Who Created Utilitarianism
• Utilitarian ideas were expressed before
utilitarianism was officially defined.
• Jeremy Bentham(1748-1832) was the first
person to define utilitarianism.
• Bentham defined it as “it is the greatest
happiness of the greatest number that is the
measure of right and wrong.”
• He was considered the Father of Utilitarianism.
Who Created Utilitarianism
• John Stuart Mill(1820-1873) added new insight
to the concept of utilitarianism
• Introduced Rule Utilitarianism.
• Rule utilitarians believe in taking a two-part
approach that emphasizes the significance of
moral rules
 Utilitarianism in The Incredibles
“It is for the Utilitarian
greater good!” view is about
Clip shows making
Frozone making a decisions that
decision for the are best for
“Greater Good” everyone
Chooses helping
civilians over date
night
Works Cited
Duignan, Brian.“Jeremy Bentham.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica,
Inc., www.britannica.com/biography/Jeremy-Bentham.

Nathanson, Stephen. “Act and Rule Utilitarianism.” Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy,

iep.utm.edu/util-a-r/.
Brink, David. “Mill's Moral and Political Philosophy.” Stanford Encyclopedia of
Philosophy, Stanford University, 21 Aug. 2018, plato.stanford.edu/entries/mill-moral-
political/. 
Driver, Julia. “The History of Utilitarianism.” Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy,
Stanford University, 22 Sept. 2014, plato.stanford.edu/entries/utilitarianism-history/.