Overview
This lecture explains how utilitarian moral theory, primarily Bentham's quantitative utilitarianism, applies to health issues at both individual and societal levels, focusing on maximizing pleasure and minimizing pain for the greatest number.
Utilitarianism and Personal Health Choices
- Utilitarianism evaluates health decisions by their effects on one's own and others’ pleasure and pain, not just individual rights.
- Taking care of oneself (e.g., diet, exercise) is morally important if it reduces long-term pain and increases happiness for all affected.
- Poor health choices (e.g., overeating, excessive drinking) can reduce personal well-being and burden family, coworkers, and society.
- Serving as a good example to children is important; both overfeeding and underfeeding can be harmful from a utilitarian view.
- Regular exercise benefits not only oneself but also reduces inconvenience or costs to others.
Medication and Preventive Health
- Refusing necessary medication can cause harm to oneself and others (e.g., disturbing neighbors or family).
- Preventive measures (e.g., relaxation, stretching) are encouraged if they reduce overall pain and increase pleasure in the community.
Risky Behaviors and Public Health
- Engaging in risky behaviors (dangerous sports, unprotected sex, drug abuse) may bring personal pleasure but usually causes more harm to others.
- The negative utility of widespread consequences usually outweighs the pleasure gained by individuals.
Infectious Disease and Social Responsibility
- Going to work or sending kids to school while sick can spread illness, causing more overall pain.
- Flexibility in attendance policies is advised to minimize harm to the group.
- Parents should avoid sending sick children to school to prevent spreading diseases.
Societal Health Issues
- Universal healthcare is generally supported by utilitarianism if it increases overall pleasure and reduces pain, even at the cost of higher taxes.
- Triage and rationing (allocating limited healthcare resources to maximize overall benefit) are justified on utilitarian grounds.
- Elective procedures with low societal benefit (e.g., cosmetic surgery for superficial reasons) should not be publicly funded.
Public Health Policy: Disclosure, Inoculation, and Quarantine
- Disclosing certain health risks (e.g., contagious diseases) can be justified if it prevents greater harm to the community.
- Inoculations are supported if benefits to public health outweigh the risks to individuals.
- Overuse of antibiotics is criticized as it leads to widespread harm (antibiotic resistance).
- Quarantines are morally justified if they prevent greater harm to the larger population, despite significant restrictions for affected individuals.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Utilitarianism — Moral theory prioritizing actions that maximize total happiness (pleasure) and minimize total pain for the greatest number.
- Utility — The balance of pleasure over pain resulting from an action.
- Triage — The process of prioritizing treatment based on severity and potential benefit.
- Rationing — Allocating limited resources to maximize societal benefit.
- Quarantine — Isolating individuals to prevent disease spread.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Reflect on personal health choices using the utilitarian framework: consider effects on both self and others.
- Examine current events or policies in health care with utilitarian concepts in mind.
- Prepare examples of health-related dilemmas for further class discussion.