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Utilitarianism
Utilitarianism
Utilitarianism
Notable works:
4 • “Principle of Political Economy”
• “Utilitarianism”
• “A System of Logic”
Born: February 15, 1748;
1
Died: June 6, 1832
Introduces Felicific/Hedonistic
2
Calculus
Intensity
3 Duration
Certainty or Uncertainty
Propinquity or Remoteness
4
Fecundity
Purity
Extent
Happiness, as defined Mill’s utilitarian
by Mill, is pleasure and doctrine makes a
the absence of pain, concrete distinction
while unhappiness is between higher and
pain or the absence of lower forms of
pleasure. pleasure.
Principle of Utility or
The Greatest
Happiness Principle is
the supreme measure
of morality.
Bentham’s version of But in Mill’s version,
pleasures can be
utilitarianism focuses
distinguished not only
on the potential quantitatively, but
amount or quantity qualitatively as well.
of happiness that an Happiness should not be
action can potentially measured by solely on the
basis of how long or how
produce for it to be intense the feelings is for a
considered right. person.
Studying three hours a day for a
week
Playing games all day for a week
• tedious, yet allows one to develop
• immediately satisfies one’s search his/her intellect and virtue of
for fun and excitement perseverance in learning
• allows one to hang out with important lessons for school
friends • the discipline of focusing on
• lets one enjoy oneself while VS relevant tasks related to one’s
escaping the everyday pressures of education can go a long way in
daily tasks like household chores, one’s future endeavors
etc. • relatively solitary
• essentially satisfies one and one’s • has potential to bring pleasure to
gaming friends immediately one’s family by showing one’s
gratitude for their gift of
education
Capacity for enjoyment is low.
5
Utilitarianism upholds the
belief that a truly moral person
always tries to incorporate the good
of others in every decision he/she
makes.
A distinction must be made between the
motives and the consequences of one’s
action
N
C
L
The aim of Utilitarianism is to promote a moral way of
life that considers the welfare of the community and not
U
just one's own.
S
I To think of the consequences of one's actions in the
O context of the community is to be moral, and to
contribute to the pleasure of others and to decrease the
N measure of pain that afflicts them is one's realization of
a truly moral life.
R Jeremy Bentham. Henry William Pickersgill (died
1875). 1875. National Portrait Gallery: NPG 413
E
F John Stuart Mill. Hulton Archive. Circa 18790. N/A
E
R Macleod, C. "John Stuart Mill", The Stanford
Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Fall 2018 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.),
E URL, https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/fall2018/entries/mill/>.
N
Crimmins, J.E., "Jeremy Bentham", The Stanford
C Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Summer 2019 Edition), Edward N.
Zalta (ed.), URL,
E https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/sum2019/entries/bentham/>.
S
P
R
E AMPARO, MARILOU MAE E.
CRUZ, CRIZZALYN
S CRUZ, VIRGILIO
E DELA RAMA, DOMINIC LOUIS
KU, KATRINA
N LIGNES, PAUL THOMAS
T MORTERA, KIMBERLY CAMILLE
E OGAWA, EDSEL ANNE
PABELLON, KHAILE
D
ACT185
B
Y