RELIGIOUS ETHICS

Ethical Theory

‘UTILITARIANISM FROM BENTHAM & MILL’

THE GENERAL PRINCIPLES

‘A TELEOLOGICAL THEORY’

Thus, an action is morally correct if its consequence brings the greatest amount

of happiness for the most number of people.

Utilitarianism believes that an act is neither good nor bad, but the

consequences of that act determine whether it is moral.

‘A TELEOLOGICAL THEORY’

Utilitarianism was developed by two men: Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832) John Stuart Mill (1806-1873)

• Utilitarianism is a TELEOLOGICAL argument.• Its theory which evaluates the morality of an action based on consequences.

• It can be summed up by the phrase:• “The greatest happiness for the greatest number”

This is called the ‘Greatest Happiness Principle’ (GHP). This principle is used by Utilitarians to evaluate any scenario.

Right actions (those which are morally correct) produce the greatest amount of happiness amongst the wider number of

people.

Each person’s happiness is counted as equally important.

RELIGIOUS ETHICS

Ethical Theory

UTILITARIANISM FROM BENTHAM

THEORISTS & THEORIESBentham & Mill developed two different ideas as to how

Utilitarianism should work.

‘JEREMY BENTHAM’ Bentham wanted to find a way of defining right and wrong. He wished to do this without a need for a transcendent

authority. He was concerned about social reform. This was because the conditions people lived in were appalling.

In Introduction to the Principles of Morals & Legislation (1789), he tried to establish a way of arguing for something to be good and

bad according to its benefit for the majority of people.

He called this the

PRINCIPLE OF UTILITY.PRINCIPLE OF UTILITY.“By utility is meant that property in any object, whereby it tends to produce benefit, advantage, pleasure, good, or happiness, or to prevent the happening of mischief, pain, evil, or unhappiness to the party whose interest is considered: if that party be the community in general, then the happiness of the community: if a particular individual, then the happiness of that individual.”

‘HEDONIC CALCULUS’ He believed that utility should be quantitative. An action is moral if it produces the most pleasure over pain. And so, he developed the UTILITY or HEDONIC CALCULUS. This measures the amount of pleasure in any given scenario. It looked for the following seven criteria to be met:

Using this calculus, Bentham believed it was possible to measure the amount of pleasure or pain that an action will bring about. This became known as ACT

UTILITARIANISM.

DurationDuration ExtentExtentIntensityIntensity PurityPurity CertaintyCertainty RichnessRichnessPropinquityPropinquity

How long does the pleasure last?

How intense is the pleasure?

How free of pain is the pleasure?

How certain are you that it will come?

How near is the actual pleasure?

How much will it lead to more pleasure?

How widely does it cover?

‘PROBLEMS’The prime consideration when carrying out an action is

the amount of happiness or pleasure that will ensue from the action. Law or rules are of secondary

importance.

BUT THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH THIS THEORY:

• Can pleasure be quantified?• Is pleasure or happiness the same for everyone?• Is there an accurate prediction of pleasure as a result of an action?

Many people make a utilitarian judgement when they are confronted by some moral

dilemma.

‘THE BIG PICTURE’OCR 2003

“Candidates should understand the ‘greatest happiness principle’. They should be able to

describe the main similarities and differences between the thinking of Bentham & Mill.

They should consider the distinction between Act and Rule Utilitarianism suggested by some

scholars, and should be able to discuss the extent to which either of these labels might be

appropriate for Bentham or Mill.

They should be able to consider the strengths and weaknesses of Utilitarianism.”