Utilitarianism Overview

Bentham’s Act Utilitarianism

• Founded by Jeremy Bentham; focuses on maximizing pleasure and minimizing pain (“two sovereign masters”).
• A consequentialist (teleological) ethical theory: morality is based on the consequences of actions.
• The Principle of Utility: the morally right action is what produces the greatest happiness for the greatest number.
• Uses the Hedonic Calculus, which assesses actions based on seven factors: intensity, duration, certainty, propinquity, purity, extent, fecundity.
• Decisions are made case by case, weighing the consequences each time.

Criticisms of Act Utilitarianism

• Predicting future outcomes accurately is nearly impossible.
• Pleasure and pain are subjective; definitions of happiness differ among individuals.
• Criticized as a “swine ethic” for focusing solely on base pleasures.
• Vulnerable to the “tyranny of the majority,” risking exploitation or harm to minorities.
• Commits the “naturalistic fallacy” (Moore): assumes what is natural (pleasure-seeking) is good.

Mill’s Rule Utilitarianism

• John Stuart Mill adapted Bentham’s theory by emphasizing rules that generally maximize happiness.
• Focuses on the quality, not just the quantity, of pleasure; distinguishes higher (intellectual) from lower (bodily) pleasures.
• Behavior should follow rules that tend to benefit society’s common good.
• Faster decision-making than act utilitarianism but may face rule conflicts.

Preference Utilitarianism

• Associated with Peter Singer and R.M. Hare.
• Focuses on satisfying the preferences/desires of those involved, not just pleasure and pain.
• Seen as a modern, adaptable version of utilitarianism.

Strengths of Utilitarianism

• Maximizing happiness is a widely supported moral aim (Aristotle, Dalai Lama).
• Secular and applicable regardless of religious belief.
• Democratic and progressive; supports majority rule and social reform.

Weaknesses of Utilitarianism

• Relies on subjective definitions of pleasure and happiness.
• Difficult to predict all consequences.
• May justify morally wrong actions if they benefit the majority (“end justifies the means”).
• Offers weak protection for minority rights; can lead to human rights abuses.

Key Terms & Definitions

• Consequentialism — Ethical theories judging actions by their outcomes.
• Principle of Utility — The idea that moral actions are those which maximize happiness or pleasure.
• Hedonic Calculus — Bentham’s method for quantifying pleasure and pain.
• Swine Ethic — Criticism that the theory only values base pleasures.
• Naturalistic fallacy — Mistakenly assuming what is natural is necessarily good.
• Tyranny of the Majority — Situation where the majority’s interests oppress minorities.