Jeremy Bentham

& John Stuart

Mill:Utilitarianis
m
- The Greatest Good for the Greatest
Number
 The Philosophers

Jeremy Bentham (1748–1842)

British philosopher who

advocated for the rights of
women, freedom of
expression, and the
abolishment of slavery and of
the death penalty. He was the "All human behavior could be
mentor of John Stuart Mill explained with this basic
He used reason and science to explain instinct: the search for
pleasure and the avoidance of
human behavior. pain."
The Philosophers

John Stuart Mill (1806–1873)

British philosopher
who contributed widely
to social theory,
political theory, and
political economy.
"All human behavior could be
explained with this basic instinct:
refined Bentham’s utilitarianism the search for pleasure and the
system by expanding it to include avoidance of pain."
human rights. He was the protégé of
Jeremy Bentham
What is Utilitarianism?
Utility— is used to mean general well-being or happiness
• is a theory in philosophy about right and wrong actions. It
says that the morally best action is the one that makes the
most overall happiness or "utility"
• All social morals should aim for producing the greatest
happiness for the greatest number of people.
• An ethical system that attempts to quantify happiness and
the good
What is Utilitarianism?

• intends to provide a reasoned basis for making judgments

of value rather than relying on subjectivity, intuition, or
opinion.
• According to Mill's theory of utilitarianism, the way to
know whether something is ethically right or good is not
by determining what the motives are behind it, but by
determining what the outcome is. Similar to
Consequentialism
• In other words, the ends justify the means.
What is Utilitarianism?

Characteristics:
(1) universality, because it applies to all acts of human behavior,
even those that appear to be done from altruistic motives;
(2) objectivity, meaning it operates beyond individual thought,
desire, and perspective;
(3) rationality, because it is not based in metaphysics or
theology; and
(4) quantifiability in its reliance on utility.
Example:

Play Video
The Role of
Utilitarianism in
Business Ethics
 Add title

 We apply utilitarianism by analyzing

whether the BENEFITS of an action
outweigh the HARM of that action.

If the results are positive overall, then the

decision is ethical.
if the results are more negative than
positive = unethical.
 Add title

 Used frequently when business leaders

make critical decisions about things like
expansion, store closings, hiring, and
layoffs.
 Also plays a role in risk management. The
utility function, or the potential for benefit
or loss, can be translated into decision-
making, risk assessment, and strategic
planning
Example:

Imagine that you are the head of a drug company.

You have a new drug that can help people with
serious autoimmune diseases get better. But
there's a problem: About 1 in every 500 people
who take the drug will have terrible side effects
that can cause serious pain and sometimes even
death. What should you do? Should you shelve the
drug or release it to the public?
 Add title

 Utilitarianism can be used to make

decisions in the business world. When you
are weighing the benefit of your company's
new drug against its possible negative side
effect, you are engaging in utaliratian
thinking
 Another Example:

Ford Pinto went on sale despite having serious design flaws in

its key components which included the fuel tank. The
manufacturer still sold this vehicle (and it sold very well).
Engineers knew that the car had problems.Ford estimated how
many deaths would result from these problems and concluded
that it would be more profitable for them to not do anything
about it. The Ford Pinto case represents a perfect example of
misguided business ethics and an incorrect use of
utilitarianism (where profits outweigh moral values or human
life)
Another Example:
 Limitations of
Utilitarianism

 The good of the many (as defined by

happiness) always outweighs the good of
the few.
 You cannot measure happiness in tangible
ways. When we try to measure happiness,
there isn’t a definitive measurement that
can be used because your emotional
reactions are different in every situation.
 Limitations of
Utilitarianism

 Outcomes are unpredictable when dealing

with the future. People look into the
future, and then predict what will bring
them a maximum level of happiness today.
Because nothing beyond the present
moment is guaranteed, there is no feasible
way to implement the concepts of this
theory. You are always working from an
assumption.
Quiz Time!

 1. It says that the morally best action is the one

that makes the most overall happiness or
"utility"
 2.He is the British philosopher who advocated
for the rights of women,freedom of expression
and the abolishment of the slavery and the
death penalty.
 3.British philosopher who contributed widely to
social theory and political economy. He was the
one who refined utilitarianism system by
expanding it to include human rights.
Quiz Time!

 4-5. Give some characteristics of

Utilitarianism
 TRUE OR FALSE
 6.Objectivity means to operate beyond
individual thought, desire and perspective.
 7.In utilitarianism, the good of the few
always outweighs the good of the may.
 8. Utilitarianism is similar to
Consequentialism
 Quiz Time!

 9.Universality is one of the characteristics

of Utilitarianism because it applies to all
acts of human behavior even those that
appear to be done from altruistic motives

 10.Utilitarianism cannot be used to make

decisions in the business world
Answers!!!

 1. Utilitarianism
 2. Jeremy Bentham
 3.John Stuart Mill
 4.Universality, Rationality
 5. Objectivity, Quantifiability
 6. True
 7. False
 8. True
 9. True
 10. False