Consequentialism

and
Utilitarianism
Consequentialism
- Are concerned with the consequences of
particular action or rules, when deciding if
they are good or not.
Consequentialism
- Unlike deontology can be seem as too
restrictive, consequentialism is often seem as
too permissive. But no matter what, the
normative status of particular actions is
determined in some way by consequenses
Consequentialism
-Morality is ultimately about doing whatever
has the best consequences.
 Two types of Consequentialism

 Act consequentialism examines each act individually and

determines the right act to be the one that produces the
greatest number of consequences consistent with the
desired outcome.
 Rule consequentialism determines the morally right action
to be the one that follows a rule whose observance would
produce the desired outcome.
 Two Great Philosopher

 Jeremy Bentham – was an English

philosopher, jurist, and social
reformer regarded as the founder
of classical utilitarianism.
 happiness simply meant pleasure
and the absence of pain
 Two Great Philosopher

 John Stuart Mill– revised the

theory of utilitarianism and
become the founder of modern
utilitarianism
 HAPPINESS or PLEASURE is of
highest value.
Utilitarianism
-Utilitarianism is a consequentialist moral theory
focused on maximizing the overall good; the
good of others as well as the good of one’s self.

-Ethical theory that determines right from wrong

by focusing on outcomes. Holds
that the most ethical choice is the one that will
produce the greatest good for the greatest
number
Utilitarianism
• However, because we cannot predict the future,
it’s difficult to know with certainty
whether the consequences of our actions will be
good or bad.
• Utilitarianism also has trouble accounting for
values such as justice and individual rights.
 3 Core Elements of Mill’s Utilitarianism
 The Utility Principle “pleasure and freedom from pain are the only
things desirable as ends” – they are the only intrinsic goods
 The Greatest Happiness Principle (consequentialist principle)
“actions are right in proportion as they tend to produce happiness,
wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness.
 • Happiness = pleasure + absence of pain
 Unhappiness = pain + absence of pleasure
THANK YOU