Chapter 18

Various Moral Approaches

 Utilitarianism
• “Greatest happiness theory”
• Ethical theory first systematically proposed by
Jeremy Bentham and his student, John Stuart
Mill.
• Its main tenet is that one must act so as to
promote the greatest happiness or pleasure to
the greatest number of persons.
• An act is morally right if the good elements or
effects of the act surpass the bad ones.
• In general utilitarianism judges the moral wort
of an act according to the goodness or
badness of its consequences.
• An act is good if it contributes to the overall
utility.
• For Bentham – mankind had been placed by
nature under the governance of two sovereign
masters: pain and pleasure”. That which gives
happiness or pleasure to most people is good;
while that which bestows pain or misery is evil
• While Bentham failed to distinguish on the
various types of pleasure, Mill argued that
indeed there are higher as well as lower
pleasures. He said the higher pleasures are
more valued by competent judges than the
latter; by “competent” is meant those who
experienced both lower and higher pleasures.
 Utilitarianism and Authority
• A utilitarian would answer that a state it entitled to
authority if and only if it promotes more happiness (or
“goodwill” and “common benefit”) for the greatest
number.
• A Hobbesian might argue that to achieve this the state
needs a strong central government and a strict
implementation of laws. To be an effective government
coercive action is necessary to implement crucial
government coercive action crucial government programs
for the people; otherwise anarchy and chaos will result.
• However, Bentham might disagree, which
believes that the greatest happiness for the
greatest number will be best served by
minimum governance and limited state
authority. He believes that the happiness of
every citizen who comes in contact with state
actions and decision shall always be
considered in the formulation of state policy.
 Act Utilitarianism
• Argues that one ought to do those acts that
produe the greatest good for the greatest
number.
• For act utilitarians, like Bentham, rules or laws
may be abandoned in those instances where
following them would not produce the
greatest good for the greatest number.
 Rule Utilitarianism
• A rule utilitarianism will not necessitate the
abandonment of rule. It will only choose those
rules or set of rules that will produce the
greatest good for the greatest number.
 Utilitarianism and Law
• Bentham thought that the principle of utility can guide
the lawmakers in that for him the purpose of law and
morals are on: To promote the general welfare of the
people
• Mill said that: The sole en for which mankind are
warranted, individually or collectively, in interfering with
the liberty of actions of any of theirs number, is self-
protection. The only purpose for which power can be
rightfully exercised over any member of a civilized
community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others.
• The 1897 Philippine Constitution mandates
the state to promote “general welfare” and
“common good” for the people.

• The Revised Administrative Code also defines

the general welfare clause.
 Criticism
• Consequence proposition – Actions are judged
good/bad, right/wrong by their consequences. Right
actions are those with best consequences.
• Happiness proposition – in evaluating consequences,
the only important thing is the amount of happiness
(or unhappiness) that was caused. Right action causes
more happiness than unhappiness.
• Equality proposition – in computing overall happiness,
each one’s happiness is equally important. Every
person’s welfare is equally important.