Utilitarianism: objections Michael Lacewing

Hedonist act utilitarianism Act consequentialism: Actions are morally right or wrong depending on their consequences and nothing else. An act is right if it maximises what is good. Value theory: The only thing that is good is happiness. Equality: Everyone’s happiness counts more than anyone else’s.

Problems with calculation Can we know the consequences of an action? Bentham: –the principle of utility ‘approves or disapproves of every action whatsoever, according to the tendency which it appears to have to augment or diminish … happiness’ –It is much easier to work out the consequences that actions ‘tend’ to have –We needn’t pursue the felicific calculus every time

Mill’s secondary principles Mill: happiness is ‘much too complex and indefinite’ a standard for us to apply directly to actions in many cases But humanity has worked this out over time, giving our moral rules (‘secondary principles’) –‘Don’t steal’: because it tends to produce more unhappiness than happiness If two secondary principles conflict, then we should appeal to the greatest happiness principle

Individual liberty and rights No type of action is ruled out as immoral –Torturing a child for fun is wrong, even in circumstances where this gives more happiness than not torturing the child –What makes it wrong is not that this balance of happiness is unlikely Happiness isn’t always good?

Individual liberty and rights Moral rights place restrictions on how people can treat each other –Right to life: other people mustn’t kill me –Right to liberty: I may act as I choose as long as this respects other people’s rights –Rights must be respected even when this does not maximize happiness But do we have any moral rights?

The value of motives and character Utilitarianism doesn’t recognize the moral value of either our motives for acting or virtuous character traits Mill’s reply: utilitarianism says these are not relevant to whether an action is right, but that does not mean they are morally irrelevant A good motive or virtue is one that tends to produce morally right actions It is important to be made happy by maximizing happiness

Particular relationships Everyone’s happiness counts equally. My happiness, and the happiness of those I love, has no special weight in guiding my actions –This is too idealistic (demanding) –This wrongly condemns partiality Visiting a friend in hospital; rescuing one’s wife from drowning – just a means to maximize happiness?

Particular relationships Friendship requires that the friend is valued as the individual person that they are, and that we act out of love for them Benefiting a friend is morally good Therefore, utilitarianism is false – it is not wrong not to maximize happiness