Jeremey Bentham Founder of Utilitarianism Born 1748 Died

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

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.

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

Cost Benefit Analysis DESCRIPTIVE (HOW WE ACT) PRESCRIPTIVE (HOW WE OUGHT TO ACT) Cost – How can this hurt me? Cost - How much pain will this cause US Benefit – How might this help me? Benefit – How much pleasure will this cause US

Case Study: Should Pot be Legal?

Rounding up Beggars

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