Utilitarianism

What is Utility?

Teleological

vs.

Deontological

Jeremy Bentham: 1748-1832Quantitative Utilitarianism

Calculating Decisions

Hedonistic Calculus

• Intensity

• Duration

• Certainty

• Propinquity

• Fecundity

• Purity

• Extent

Sentient Beings & Peter Singer

John Stuart Mill: 1806-1873

Qualitative Utilitarianism

(Harriet Taylor)

Higher Pleasures

vs.

Lower Pleasures

Critical Response

What makes this theory appealing?

• The focus on Happiness

• The idea that no one person is more important

• The focus on the result

• It can be incorporated into a Christian worldview

Trouble spots

• 1—Can we really predict the future?

• 2—Can we be certain of all possible results?

• 3—Can we really know who will be affected? Isn’t happiness different for everyone?

more problems…

• 4—Are rules and ethical virtues (fairness) really unimportant?

• 5—Motives never count?

• 6—Only the consequences matter?

• 7—What about ethical responsibility or blame?