Post on 18-Jan-2018
description
Arguments based on consequences
• We have a serious problem.• There are these options: A, B,
C.• The consequences of doing A
are bad.• The consequences of doing B
are bad.• The consequences of doing C
are good.• Therefore, we should do C.
Act Utilitarianism
• One ought to do the action which will create more social utility than any alternative possible action.
• Social utility: overall balance of negative and positive utility, over long term, for all concerned.
• Decision procedure:– List all concerned– Consider all alternatives– Calculate the overall utility of
each alternative for all concerned
Utilitarians differ about:• What counts as utility
– happiness– pleasure– well-being– preferences– mixed bag of goods
• Who should be counted– all humans– some humans– all sentient creatures– all creatures
Some problems• Measurement
– How do we measure utility?– Average or total?– How can we predict
consequences?• Problems of implementation
– What do we do when we’re in a hurry?
– What do we teach our children?• Fairness
– What if the optimal action results in inequality or unfairness?
Rule Utilitarianism
• Do the action which is in accord with the rule which would, if generally followed, create more social utility than any alternative rule.
• Decision procedure:– List possible rules.– Consider the consequences of
adoption of each rule.– Select the rule with the most
utility.– Apply the rule.
Rules
• Rules must be general enough to cover similar cases and
• Specific enough to give us some guidance about what to do.
• Precise enough to rule out obvious counter-examples– E.g. “It’s wrong to kill.” is too
broad. What about self-defense?– “It’s wrong to kill an innocent
person.”
RU and choosing rules
• The RU looks at all the rules for a particular issue and asks which rule, if generally followed, would result in the best consequences.