Utilitarianism ppt

8/7/2019 Utilitarianism ppt

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Ethical philosophy differs from the

sciences because it is normative or

prescriptive, rather than descriptive.

In other words, ethics tell us how we

ought to act or what we should do,

while the sciences are more likely toobserve how things are in nature orsociety.


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Areas of Emphasis in Making Moral

JudgmentsPurpose or

Motive

Act, Rule,

or Maxim

Results or

Consequences


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Utilitarianism says that the esult or the

Consequence of an Act is the real

measure of whether it is good or bad.

This theory emphasizes Ends over

Means.

Theories, like this one, that emphasizethe results or consequences are called

teleological orconsequentialist.


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JeremyBentham


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Man is under two great masters, pain

and pleasure.

The great good that we should seek ishappiness. (a hedonistic perspective)

Those actions whose results increase

happiness or diminish pain are good.They have utility.


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In determining the quantity of happiness

that might be produced by an action,

we evaluate the possible consequencesby applying several values:

Intensity, duration, certainty or

uncertainty, propinquity or remoteness,fecundity, purity, and extent.


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Consequentialism

Hedonism

Maximalism

Universalism


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Principle ofUtility

GreatestHappiness


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If you can use eighty soldiers as a decoy

in war, and thereby attack an enemy

force and kill several hundred enemy

soldiers, that is a morally good choiceeven though the eighty might be lost.

If lying or stealing will actually bring about

more happiness and/or reduce pain, ActUtilitarianism says we should lie and steal

in those cases.


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Benthams theory could mean that if 10

people would be happy watching a manbeing eaten by wild dogs, it would be a

morally good thing for the 10 men to kidnapsomeone (especially someone whose death

would not cause grief to many others) andthrow the man into a cage of wild, hungry

dogs.


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Mill argues that we must consider the

quality of the happiness, not merely thequantity.

For example, some might find happiness

with a pitcher of beer and a pizza. Othersmay find happiness watching a fine

Shakespearean play.The quality ofhappiness is greater with the latter.


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As between his own happiness and that

of others, utilitarianism requires him to be

as strictly impartial as a disinterested and

benevolent spectator. In the goldenrule of Jesus of Nazareth, we read the

complete spirit of the ethics of utility. To

do as you would be done by, and tolove your neighbor as yourself,constitute the ideal perfection of

utilitarian morality.


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IfIam to bring the greatest happiness to thegreatest number, not putting my own

happiness above others, that may lead to a

dilemma. I live in a neighborhood where

83% of my neighbors use drugs. I couldmake them most happy by helping supply

them with cheap drugs, but I feel

uncomfortable doing that. What should a

utilitarian do?


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Bernard Williams criticizes the implieddoctrine of negative responsibility inUtilitarianism. For example, a thug breaksinto my home and holds six people

hostage, telling us he will kill all of us.However, the thug says, if you will killtwo of your family, I will let you and theother three live.

With Utilitarianism, the good thing to do isto kill two members of my family.


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Utilitarianism plays fast and loose with

Gods commandments. If lying, stealing,

or killing could lead to an increase ofhappiness for the greatest number, we

are told we should lie, steal or kill. Isnt

that a rejection of Gods commands?


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What is the nature of God? Does God make arbitrary rules just to see

if we will obey?

Does God make rules that He knows willlead to our happiness?

If the latter statement is true, doesnt itmake sense God would want us to use

our God-given reason to look at thesituation?


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If it be a true belief that God desires,

above all things, the happiness of his

creatures, and that this was his purpose intheir creation, utility is not a godless

doctrine, but more profoundly religious

than any other. . . . .whatever God has

though fit to reveal on the subject of moralsmust fulfill the requirements of utility in a

supreme degree.


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If one must decide the probable outcome

of an act before knowing whether it is

good or bad, how can children learn toevaluate acts, since they know so little of

what consequences might arise from their

actions?


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. . . Mankind must by this time have

acquired positive beliefs as to the effects of

some actions on their happiness; and the

beliefs which have thus come down are therules of morality for the multitude, and for the

philosopher until he has succeeded in finding

better. Mill concludes, however, that we

should always seek improvements.


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Many philosophers hold that we havecertain rights, either from God, nature, orfrom a social contract

Can the idea of rights be made compatiblewith Utilitarianism?

If ignoring rights brings about morehappiness to the greatest number, should

we ignore so-called rights? Mills rule-based view in On Liberty; havinga right to liberty will bring the greatesthappiness


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Baucus & Baucus (2000) Singled out 67 companies out of the Fortune

500 that had at least one illegal act ex:antitrust, product liabilities, discrimination

Performance of the convicted firms werecompared to unconvicted firms (five yearafter the fraud was committed)

Convicted firms experienced significantly

lower return on sales (three year lag) Multiple convictions are more disastrous

Unethical activities can affect long termperformance

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