Utilitarianism

[Bond]

Utilitarianism


Would Shakira be willing to maximize your pleasure?

What is Utilitarianism?

Utilitarianism is a philosophical theory primarily dealing with how we should act. It has two components:

Theory of Utility. That is, well being - what makes life good for people.

What we should do about that utility. Act Utilitarianism, the most common type of utilitarianism, says we should produce as much of that well being as possible.

View on Happiness

Many scholars of utilitarianism have a hedonistic view when it comes to happiness, dating back to the ancient Greeks: Pleasure is the only component of happiness and the only component of unhappiness is pain or suffering. So, the greatest possible life for a person is one in which they have the greatest balance of pleasure over pain.

Felicific Calculus

Felicific Calculus is an algorithm concocted by utilitarian philosopher Jeremy Bentham to determine how much pleasure an action is likely to cause. Bentham attached numbers to these actions in an effort to produce the greatest amount of pleasure in a mathematical way. Most people find Bentham’s Felicific Calculus to be bizarre.

Utilitarianism and Romanticism

James Mill, a pupil of Bentham, strived to combine the hedonism of utilitarianism with romanticism. Mill setup a higher and lower pleasure spectrum, contrasting a sad Socrates with a happy pig. Mill concludes that it is better to be a sad Socrates than a happy pig, as Socrates is enjoying a higher form of pleasure.

Criticisms Against Mill’s Utilitarianism

There were two main lines of objection against Mill:

His Hedonism. Many scholars have a fundamental problem with the philosophy of hedonism, and as such Mill was attacked for it.

Maximizing Pleasure. Maximizing the greatest good seems like a good idea in theory, but it has some problems. For example, someone has a bomb that they’re about to set off, the police may be required to torture their children to find out where the bomb is to save the most amount of lives.

Was Mill Right?

Yes and no. Mill’s theory of morality, to maximize beneficial consequences seems to be correct. But, Mill failed to realize the partiality that we have for our own interests above others. The great struggle is balancing partiality to oneself and impartiality.

Is Utilitarianism Wrong?

Most philosophers after World War II attacked and berated Utilitarianism, but it has withstood those thrashings and is still a dominant theory today. Recently, Utilitarianism has promoted equality between the developed and the developing world, as well as championing animal rights.

[Teuthida]

Going to have to reject Utilitarianism. As mentioned in my post about suffering, I don't see happiness and pain to be on opposite sides of the spectrum. Nor do I believe in action based on whether you'll receive more happiness from it. Happiness should be secondary...unless you're really bummed out and truly need that pick-me-up. I think those who consider themselves as happy people are only kidding themselves. Things may be pleasurable, but an abundance of pleasure does not equate happiness. I must I agree with Mill on that front. Then again his reasoning is based on that of a competent judge. Shouldn't one's happiness be their own to decide and not comparable to another?

[Typhoid]

I just basically feel as such:

If something makes you happy - do it, if it's in the borders of the law, of course.
Nobody else can tell you what will, or will not make you happy. Nobody can tell you how you want to live your life, or what you want to be.

I just feel everyone should live for themselves (not in the selfish context) and not be so worried about what others will think, or how much money they'll have when they retire and all that hooliganism.

[Professor S]

What is happiness? What is pleasure? My thinking is that these two concepts need to be defined before addressing utilitarianism.

[Typhoid]

Originally Posted by Professor S

What is happiness? What is pleasure? My thinking is that these two concepts need to be defined before addressing utilitarianism.

But they can't be defined, unless generally.
"Something that produces the feeling of happiness."
"Something that makes the recipient happy."

Pleasure and happiness have different meanings to everyone, so it's impossible to narrow it down.