1. Jeremey Bentham Founder of Utilitarianism Born: 1748
Died: 1832 (age – 84)
Championed: Animals well-being, Prison reform, women's equality, the abolition of slavery, and maximum personal freedom
Founded the University of London

4. Basic Principles of Utilitarianism
Happiness = Pleasure (both mental and physical Pleasure counts)
Pleasure is always, in itself, a good thing
Every living thing has only one motivation: pursue pleasure; avoid pain
Good = Pleasure; Bad = Pain [Hedonism]
No particular being’s pleasure or pain matters any more or less than any others’ (Principle of Equal Treatment)
The morally right thing to do, therefore, is that which will produce the greatest total amount of pleasure/happiness (Principle of Utility)
Only Consequences matter for moral evaluations. Intentions mean nothing.

5. Felicific Calculus Assign units of pleasure or pain to actions
Pleasure would be measured by a +
Pain would be measured by a –

6. Cost Benefit Analysis Descriptive (how we act)
Prescriptive (how we OUGHT to act)
Cost – How can this hurt me?
Benefit – How might this help me?
Cost - How much pain will this cause US
Benefit – How much pleasure will this cause US

7. Case Study: Should Pot be Legal?

8. Rounding up Beggars

9. Obections Utilitarian Positions
1. Consequentialists – Only the outcome of the “greatest good matters.”
2. Hedonism - All pleasures are equal.
Objections
1. What about Rights and Liberty?
2. Jack the Ripper’s Pleasure?