CritiqueUtilitarianism

Utilitarianism - Critique of

Nature has placed mankind under the governance of two sovereign masters, pain and pleasure. It is for them alone to point out what we ought to do, as well as to determine what we shall do. Bentham

What is utilitarianism?
Utilitarianism says an act is moral if it brings about a desirable good or end..
Pain and pleasure are the measure. What is morally right is whatever produces the greatest overall amount of pleasure

Insights Gained from Utilitarianism

Concerns Raised by Utilitarianism

We must look at results.
Each act is unique.
We should promote the "good."
Ethical actions are more than relative and it's important to think about them.
We are, in part, responsible for others. We affect others.

It's difficult to predict the outcome of our actions.
Consequence shouldn't be the sole deciding factor for actions
It's hard enough to know what is good enough for us , but to predict what is best for others is hard too.
We may not always have time to ask everyone involved what would be best for them
It's a difficult way to raise a child and inculcate values
It takes time to reassess each situation .
Utilitarianism is very subjective. Moral visions vary and shouldn't our moral vision grow daily?
Should pleasure be the standard for morality? Can the human mind calculate the pain or pleasure that would result from any given action? Can pleasure alone form a valid distinction between right and wrong?
Is the greatest good for the greatest number always good?
Does (can) the ends always justify the means?
Fairness of medical experimentation - Should we be unfair to a few to benefit many?
- Can you experiment on hundreds of children to gain benefit for millions of people?
- Is it right to sacrifice one for medical experimentation for the sake of the many?
Can we lie, kill one innocent person, or do evil to achieve a good end - for the benefit of the many?
It becomes easy to rationalize. It encourages small lies, theft... what used to be called evil
- Bedeau gives an example of Bill who borrows ten dollars from Carol & he need not return it if he can maximize happiness by doing something else with it.
Should motives enter into the picture
It tells us we can simplify human complexity (like Dear Abby) in making decisions and that nothing is immoral of itself - nothing is good in and of itself - just better or worse
There is a difficulty/impossibility of knowing, measuring, and calculating all the consequences of our actions. Full knowledge is beyond human capability. We can't foresee all results.
Because of utilitarian's strict impartiality, does it fail to make sense of our special ties?
Utilitarianism is very demanding.
We often prioritize whom we give presents to, but with utilitarianism, we should theoretically not splurge on those close to us & in theory we should spend money on all.
It is also demanding because it demands that we take the best action - not just a good action. We must do the most that we can, while setting aside our personal interests.
The morality of an action cannot really be judged until the effects come into play. One may have good intentions and motivation but yield evil effects.
Is the good of the community really just a sum of the interests of the individuals comprising it?
Nothing is evil in itself: what is good is not really good but just better.
Utilitarianism denies that each moral act humanizes or dehumanizes, regardless of results
The additive/measurable nature: Is it more of a crime to kill 2 elderly sick men than to kill one child
The rights of minorities are imperiled; the rights of the majority determine and define justice (moral absolutism vs. moral relativism) (see case study below)
The additive nature is of concern - Is it a greater evil to kill one geriatric patient than 2 young children. Whom do you save in a potential train accident?
Can enough rules be written to cover all situations?

Nothing is evil in itself. We have to wait until we see the consequences.
Utilitarianism implies that what is good is not really good, but merely better.
It denies that each moral action humanizes and each immoral action dehumanizes, independent of consequences. This denies that we are what we do (evil or good). Thus Utilitarianism claims we can separate ourselves from our actions - that our body and spirit can be separated.
It may encourage one to do a small evil to produce a greater good (i.e., steal to help finances, lie to save face or prevent conflict)
Utilitarianism implies we are able to weigh incommensurable goods and foresee all consequences. Is life more complex than Dear Abby?
Utilitarianism is very subjective. Moral visions vary and shouldn't our moral vision grow daily?

Case Study. The rights of minorities

Michael Boylan presents the following story/ case study:
In Northern Ireland there is a small, remote town that is 20% Irish Catholic and 80% Irish Protestant, each living in its own section. A young Protestant girl is raped and murdered. The Protestants form a committee and tell the constable: "We believe you are a Catholic sympathizer. We have sealed off the Catholic section of town so no one can enter or leave. Hand over the criminal by sundown, or we will torch the town, killing 1,000 people. Don't call for help; all communication is disabled. By sundown, the constable asked a friend "should I randomly pick one Catholic to save 999 people. You know there's no way the two of us can stop a mob."

A central issue is the right of the majority to determine what is justice based on the # of happy people -
Moral absolutism vs. moral relativism.
80% happy (Protestants)

How is utilitarianism an improvement over egoism per Thiroux?

It tries to take into consideration everyone concerned

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

What is the origin of the word Utility?
Utility means usefulness

What is the goal of utilitarianism?
To produce the greatest balance of happiness over unhappiness of everyone who stands to be affected by our actions.
To guide people's actions so as to produce a better world.
To provide universally acceptable scientific answers to questions of morality

Which names are generally associated with utilitarianism?
Jeremy Bentham (1748 - 1832) Godfather of John Stuart Mill - Also known for Hedonic Calculator
John Stuart Mill (1806-1873) Godfather of Bertrand Russell

What are the two forms of utilitarianism?
Act utilitarianism and rule utilitarianism

Act Utilitarianism

Act utilitarianism tells us to think of our particular circumstance when determining an action.
(Should I meet Mary as promised, or should I break my promise and help John who ran out of gas?)

We should do whatever act brings about the greatest amount of good over bad for everyone affected.

What specific rules does one follow if one is an act utilitarianist?
There are no specific rules because each circumstance is different..
Each situation must be assessed individually.
Time, place and situation matter.
Since there are always exception to rules, why bother?

Is it better to lie in this one particular instance, to kill, to steal....
Act utilitarianism realizes that generally speaking, it might be better not to lie, steal, commit adultery, abuse another, but in my particular case, it might be different.

Bentham created a "Hedonic Calculator" to help up determine what to do.
Try it out!

Rule Utilitarianism

What is rule utilatiranism?

Rule utilitarianism tells us to appeal to universal rules when considering actions.
(Would a moral rule permitting lying, stealing and mercy killing work for the betterment of society?)

Thiroux writes, "Everyone should always establish and follow that rule or those rules that will bring about the greatest good for all concerned" (44)

Rule utilitarian don't debate whether they should kill their teacher when they are upset with him/her in this particular situation.. Rather they appeal to a general rule, "Never kill except in self-defense.

What distinguishes an act utilitarian from a rule utilitarian?
A rule utilitarian believes there are enough similarities in humanity, motives, situations, actions), that there is reason to and justification for and need to establish rules. Guidelines are important. Haphazardness and whim should be avoided.