Utilitarianism
Published on Nov 18, 2015
No Description
MORE DECKS TO EXPLORE
PRESENTATION OUTLINE
Utilitarianism is a "consequentialist" moral philosophy.
Photo by Danny Sotzny [foto-sotzny.de]
An action is good if it has good consequences and bad if it has bad consequences.
Jeremy bentham
Develops the classical view of utilitarianism
"The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few" - Spock
Photo by JD Hancock
The goodness of an action comes in how much "utility" it produced rather than the inherent characteristics of an action.
The goodness of an action comes in how much "utility" it produced rather than the inherent characteristics of an action.
Utilitarians believe that the purpose of morality is to make life better by increasing the amount of good things (such as pleasure and happiness) in the world and decreasing the amount of bad things (such as pain and unhappiness).
We should choose the option that “maximizes utility,” i.e. that action or policy that produces the largest amount of good.
Photo by Muffet
Essentially, the right choice is the one that results in the greatest amount of happiness for the greatest number of people.
Photo by TheBigTouffe
“...the greatest happiness for the greatest number.”
John Stuart Mill
Mill elaborates on Bentham's ideas
( 1806 – 1873)
English philosopher, political economist and civil servant.
Photo by @Doug88888
"By happiness is intended pleasure and the absence of pain, by unhappiness, pain and the privation of pleasure"
Hedonism
Photo by Mixtribe Photo
Untitled Slide
Untitled Slide
Photo by Goodnight London
It's all about me!
{YOLO, BRah...
PLEASURE
Photo by mattwi1s0n
Those individuals that have experienced many types of pleasure will ultimately choose the "higher pleasures"
"Ethical hedonism" is the idea that all people have the right to do everything in their power to achieve the greatest amount of pleasure possible to them, assuming that their actions do not infringe on the equal rights of others.
It's about producing the greatest amount of pleasure for the greatest number
But it's also about producing the "highest kinds" of pleasure for people
Photo by extranoise
Remember, Mill wanted to create a society that worked together.
Photo by independentman
Utilitarians must ask: “Will this produce the best outcomes for everyone affected?” or “Are we maximizing good and minimizing harm for everyone affected?”
We need to make decisions as "benevolent spectators".
Photo by State Library of South Australia
