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Utilitarianism Lecture 2 Dealing with uncertainty Utilitarianism and absolutism Utilitarianism and the good
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Objections so far Pig philosophy Motivationally too demanding Not enough time to calculate
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Uncertainty Objection: Often uncertain of consequences, so can’t identify the action that maximizes happiness Reply: In cases of uncertainty, choose the action that offers the best “prospect”
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Choosing the best prospect Use degrees of confidence to assign probabilities to consequences Weigh possible consequences by both probability and goodness
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Example Options: Spend small budget on medications (A) Spend money on lottery tickets and winnings on medication (B) B has a possible consequence that is very good, but its probability is very low A is a better prospect than B
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Moral absolutism Claims that morality absolutely prohibits certain actions, no matter how good their consequences Example: inviolable rights Utilitarian: rights are embedded in institutions Is this good enough?
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Ex. 1: Sacrifice a healthy patient? Absolutist: Utilitarian must say yes Reply: no, because of long-term and indirect consequences Medical rights thus function as good subordinate principles
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Ex. 2: Sacrifice a disaster victim? Absolutist: Utilitarian must say yes Reply: In unusual circumstances, yes is the right answer Attachment to subordinate principles may make it feel wrong It’s a case of choosing the lesser of 2 evils
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Ex. 3: Kill innocent person to save hostages? Difference from example 2: human production of the greater evil Absolutist: shows clearly that you bear a special responsibility for what you do, as opposed to what merely happens in consequence of what you do Utilitarian must deny this
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Doctrine of negative responsibility Statement: You are as responsible for any outcome you could prevent, and not merely those you directly bring about Utilitarian endorses this Absolutist denies it
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Ex. 4: Sophie’s Choice Agent relative obligations and permissions? Utilitarianism says no, except for subordinate principles Nonconsequentialist can make room for these
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Ex. 5: Truman’s decision Truman gave a consequentialist argument This could be challenged But absolutists could say that it was wrong even if it maximized human welfare
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Utilitarianism and the good Happiness is a mental state, a quality of experience Example: the deluded physician Example: the experience machine
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Utilitarianism and the good (2) Examples suggest that the good is more than a mental state Can utilitarianism accommodate this? Might have to abandon the ideal observer method Might have to appeal to moral notions This would depart from consequentialism
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