J.S. Mill, Utilitarianism - UBC Blogsblogs.ubc.ca/phil102/files/2015/02/MillUtil-all-102-F15.pdf ·...
Transcript of J.S. Mill, Utilitarianism - UBC Blogsblogs.ubc.ca/phil102/files/2015/02/MillUtil-all-102-F15.pdf ·...
![Page 1: J.S. Mill, Utilitarianism - UBC Blogsblogs.ubc.ca/phil102/files/2015/02/MillUtil-all-102-F15.pdf · J.S. Mill, Utilitarianism (1863) PHIL 102, UBC Summer 2015 Christina Hendricks](https://reader034.fdocuments.in/reader034/viewer/2022042102/5e7e709ce088fd02ab60e16b/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
J.S. Mill, Utilitarianism (1863)
PHIL 102, UBC Summer 2015
Christina Hendricks
Except parts noted otherwise, this presentation is licensed CC-BY 4.0
![Page 2: J.S. Mill, Utilitarianism - UBC Blogsblogs.ubc.ca/phil102/files/2015/02/MillUtil-all-102-F15.pdf · J.S. Mill, Utilitarianism (1863) PHIL 102, UBC Summer 2015 Christina Hendricks](https://reader034.fdocuments.in/reader034/viewer/2022042102/5e7e709ce088fd02ab60e16b/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
John Stuart Mill (1806-1873, England)
Mill “had a lifelong goal of reforming the world in the interest of human well-‐being” h7p://plato.stanford.edu/entries/mill/
![Page 3: J.S. Mill, Utilitarianism - UBC Blogsblogs.ubc.ca/phil102/files/2015/02/MillUtil-all-102-F15.pdf · J.S. Mill, Utilitarianism (1863) PHIL 102, UBC Summer 2015 Christina Hendricks](https://reader034.fdocuments.in/reader034/viewer/2022042102/5e7e709ce088fd02ab60e16b/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
When asking what is right/wrong morally, what to evaluate?
Person Ac?on Consequences
• Inten?on • Mo?ve • Habitual disposi?on to act in some ways
• What kind of act is it?
• What was actually done?
• What results from the ac?on?
![Page 4: J.S. Mill, Utilitarianism - UBC Blogsblogs.ubc.ca/phil102/files/2015/02/MillUtil-all-102-F15.pdf · J.S. Mill, Utilitarianism (1863) PHIL 102, UBC Summer 2015 Christina Hendricks](https://reader034.fdocuments.in/reader034/viewer/2022042102/5e7e709ce088fd02ab60e16b/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
Consequentialism
“whether an act is morally right depends only on consequences (as opposed to the …intrinsic nature of the act or anything that happens before the act).” Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy on consequentialism: http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/consequentialism/#ClaUti
![Page 5: J.S. Mill, Utilitarianism - UBC Blogsblogs.ubc.ca/phil102/files/2015/02/MillUtil-all-102-F15.pdf · J.S. Mill, Utilitarianism (1863) PHIL 102, UBC Summer 2015 Christina Hendricks](https://reader034.fdocuments.in/reader034/viewer/2022042102/5e7e709ce088fd02ab60e16b/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
Hedonistic consequentialism• Value hedonism: “all and only pleasure
is intrinsically valuable and all and only pain is intrinsically disvaluable.” -- Internet Encycl. of Philo: http://www.iep.utm.edu/hedonism/#SH1b
• Hedonistic consequentialism: determine the moral value of consequences, and therefore of acts, by how much pleasure/pain produced
![Page 6: J.S. Mill, Utilitarianism - UBC Blogsblogs.ubc.ca/phil102/files/2015/02/MillUtil-all-102-F15.pdf · J.S. Mill, Utilitarianism (1863) PHIL 102, UBC Summer 2015 Christina Hendricks](https://reader034.fdocuments.in/reader034/viewer/2022042102/5e7e709ce088fd02ab60e16b/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
Some moral scenarios
http://is.gd/PHIL102Mill
A few different moral scenarios, to encourage you to think about what might be needed to say an action is morally right or wrong…
![Page 7: J.S. Mill, Utilitarianism - UBC Blogsblogs.ubc.ca/phil102/files/2015/02/MillUtil-all-102-F15.pdf · J.S. Mill, Utilitarianism (1863) PHIL 102, UBC Summer 2015 Christina Hendricks](https://reader034.fdocuments.in/reader034/viewer/2022042102/5e7e709ce088fd02ab60e16b/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
Utilitarianism, Chpt 1
“There ought either to be some one fundamental principle or law, at the root of all morality, or if there be several, there should be a determinate order of precedence among them…” (1).
What is that principle, for Mill?
![Page 8: J.S. Mill, Utilitarianism - UBC Blogsblogs.ubc.ca/phil102/files/2015/02/MillUtil-all-102-F15.pdf · J.S. Mill, Utilitarianism (1863) PHIL 102, UBC Summer 2015 Christina Hendricks](https://reader034.fdocuments.in/reader034/viewer/2022042102/5e7e709ce088fd02ab60e16b/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
Simplified overview of Mill’s Utilitarianism
We can judge the moral value of actions by the degree of happiness they tend to produce for the sentient creatures involved
![Page 9: J.S. Mill, Utilitarianism - UBC Blogsblogs.ubc.ca/phil102/files/2015/02/MillUtil-all-102-F15.pdf · J.S. Mill, Utilitarianism (1863) PHIL 102, UBC Summer 2015 Christina Hendricks](https://reader034.fdocuments.in/reader034/viewer/2022042102/5e7e709ce088fd02ab60e16b/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
Greatest Happiness Principle“actions are [morally] right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, [morally] wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness” (2). • “happiness” is defined in terms of
pleasure and reduction or absence of pain
![Page 10: J.S. Mill, Utilitarianism - UBC Blogsblogs.ubc.ca/phil102/files/2015/02/MillUtil-all-102-F15.pdf · J.S. Mill, Utilitarianism (1863) PHIL 102, UBC Summer 2015 Christina Hendricks](https://reader034.fdocuments.in/reader034/viewer/2022042102/5e7e709ce088fd02ab60e16b/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
Support for GHP (more in Chpt. IV)
• “pleasure, and freedom from pain, are the only things desirable as ends” (2)
• Mill on the highest good (5) • The “end of human action is necessarily
also the standard of morality” (5)
Pleasure, reduc?on of pain (self & others)
![Page 11: J.S. Mill, Utilitarianism - UBC Blogsblogs.ubc.ca/phil102/files/2015/02/MillUtil-all-102-F15.pdf · J.S. Mill, Utilitarianism (1863) PHIL 102, UBC Summer 2015 Christina Hendricks](https://reader034.fdocuments.in/reader034/viewer/2022042102/5e7e709ce088fd02ab60e16b/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
Pleasure as only intrinsic value (p. 2, & Chpt 4)
Use happiness, defined in terms of pleasure, to evaluate consequences of acts
Judge acts with Greatest Happiness Principle (GHP)
Actual consequences the act had?
What was intended as
consequence?
Usual consequences for this kind of
act?
![Page 12: J.S. Mill, Utilitarianism - UBC Blogsblogs.ubc.ca/phil102/files/2015/02/MillUtil-all-102-F15.pdf · J.S. Mill, Utilitarianism (1863) PHIL 102, UBC Summer 2015 Christina Hendricks](https://reader034.fdocuments.in/reader034/viewer/2022042102/5e7e709ce088fd02ab60e16b/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
Consequences for whom?
• Sentient beings (5) • Not the whole world for all actions
(6)
• Impartiality (5)
![Page 13: J.S. Mill, Utilitarianism - UBC Blogsblogs.ubc.ca/phil102/files/2015/02/MillUtil-all-102-F15.pdf · J.S. Mill, Utilitarianism (1863) PHIL 102, UBC Summer 2015 Christina Hendricks](https://reader034.fdocuments.in/reader034/viewer/2022042102/5e7e709ce088fd02ab60e16b/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
Different kinds of pleasures
Mill distinguishes between different kinds of pleasures: what kinds, and why does he make this distinction?
![Page 14: J.S. Mill, Utilitarianism - UBC Blogsblogs.ubc.ca/phil102/files/2015/02/MillUtil-all-102-F15.pdf · J.S. Mill, Utilitarianism (1863) PHIL 102, UBC Summer 2015 Christina Hendricks](https://reader034.fdocuments.in/reader034/viewer/2022042102/5e7e709ce088fd02ab60e16b/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
How do we know pleasures differ in kind, not just quantity? (3-4)
Even if you could get the sensual pleasures nearly or fully satisfied, a life with the capacity for intellectual pleasures but with less of them would still be preferable.
Sensual only (pig and fool) Sensual & intellectual (human & Socrates)
![Page 15: J.S. Mill, Utilitarianism - UBC Blogsblogs.ubc.ca/phil102/files/2015/02/MillUtil-all-102-F15.pdf · J.S. Mill, Utilitarianism (1863) PHIL 102, UBC Summer 2015 Christina Hendricks](https://reader034.fdocuments.in/reader034/viewer/2022042102/5e7e709ce088fd02ab60e16b/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
Role of motiveMotive doesn’t matter to the morality of actions (6)
Still, we should try to get people to want to promote general happiness (5-6)
![Page 16: J.S. Mill, Utilitarianism - UBC Blogsblogs.ubc.ca/phil102/files/2015/02/MillUtil-all-102-F15.pdf · J.S. Mill, Utilitarianism (1863) PHIL 102, UBC Summer 2015 Christina Hendricks](https://reader034.fdocuments.in/reader034/viewer/2022042102/5e7e709ce088fd02ab60e16b/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
Do we have to calculate consequences each time we act?
• No; we can use “subordinate principles” from the “fundamental principle” (GHP) (9)
• These are drawn from human experience of which kinds of actions tend to promote more/less pleasure & pain (8)
![Page 17: J.S. Mill, Utilitarianism - UBC Blogsblogs.ubc.ca/phil102/files/2015/02/MillUtil-all-102-F15.pdf · J.S. Mill, Utilitarianism (1863) PHIL 102, UBC Summer 2015 Christina Hendricks](https://reader034.fdocuments.in/reader034/viewer/2022042102/5e7e709ce088fd02ab60e16b/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
Pleasure as only intrinsic value
Use happiness, defined in terms of pleasure, to evaluate conseq. of acts
Greatest Happiness Principle (GHP)
Subordinate principles (moral rules) (8-‐9)
Act R/W? Act R/W? Act R/W? Act R/W?
GHP used to determine subordinate rules, decide between them if they conflict re: an action
![Page 18: J.S. Mill, Utilitarianism - UBC Blogsblogs.ubc.ca/phil102/files/2015/02/MillUtil-all-102-F15.pdf · J.S. Mill, Utilitarianism (1863) PHIL 102, UBC Summer 2015 Christina Hendricks](https://reader034.fdocuments.in/reader034/viewer/2022042102/5e7e709ce088fd02ab60e16b/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
Chpt V: Utilitarianism & JusticeTwo questions addressed here: 1. What differentiates justice from the rest
of morality?
2. Would utilitarianism allow people to act unjustly if that would promote more happiness in a group overall?
![Page 19: J.S. Mill, Utilitarianism - UBC Blogsblogs.ubc.ca/phil102/files/2015/02/MillUtil-all-102-F15.pdf · J.S. Mill, Utilitarianism (1863) PHIL 102, UBC Summer 2015 Christina Hendricks](https://reader034.fdocuments.in/reader034/viewer/2022042102/5e7e709ce088fd02ab60e16b/html5/thumbnails/19.jpg)
Question 1: Moral categoriesMorally obligatory/
required What must be done
Morally permissible/optional
What can be done
Morally prohibited
What must not be done
Supererogatory praiseworthy but
op?onal
![Page 20: J.S. Mill, Utilitarianism - UBC Blogsblogs.ubc.ca/phil102/files/2015/02/MillUtil-all-102-F15.pdf · J.S. Mill, Utilitarianism (1863) PHIL 102, UBC Summer 2015 Christina Hendricks](https://reader034.fdocuments.in/reader034/viewer/2022042102/5e7e709ce088fd02ab60e16b/html5/thumbnails/20.jpg)
• What promotes general happiness, and
• What people
should be compelled to do or avoid (19) o How decide what
actions should be compelled?
• What promotes happiness, but people should not be compelled to do or avoid (19) o Though we can try
to persuade
• Examples?
Morality/duty Prudence/expedience
![Page 21: J.S. Mill, Utilitarianism - UBC Blogsblogs.ubc.ca/phil102/files/2015/02/MillUtil-all-102-F15.pdf · J.S. Mill, Utilitarianism (1863) PHIL 102, UBC Summer 2015 Christina Hendricks](https://reader034.fdocuments.in/reader034/viewer/2022042102/5e7e709ce088fd02ab60e16b/html5/thumbnails/21.jpg)
Morality
• Duties of perfect obligation (20)
• Connected to one or more rights o How determine what
counts as a right?
• Justice/rights focus on security: “the most vital of all interests” (21)
• Duties of imperfect obligation (20)
• Not connected to rights
• Example: generosity
Justice Rest of morality
![Page 22: J.S. Mill, Utilitarianism - UBC Blogsblogs.ubc.ca/phil102/files/2015/02/MillUtil-all-102-F15.pdf · J.S. Mill, Utilitarianism (1863) PHIL 102, UBC Summer 2015 Christina Hendricks](https://reader034.fdocuments.in/reader034/viewer/2022042102/5e7e709ce088fd02ab60e16b/html5/thumbnails/22.jpg)
Must we maximize happiness?For Mill, is it morally required to produce as much happiness as possible, in all actions?
No, according to other writings
See also p. 20
![Page 23: J.S. Mill, Utilitarianism - UBC Blogsblogs.ubc.ca/phil102/files/2015/02/MillUtil-all-102-F15.pdf · J.S. Mill, Utilitarianism (1863) PHIL 102, UBC Summer 2015 Christina Hendricks](https://reader034.fdocuments.in/reader034/viewer/2022042102/5e7e709ce088fd02ab60e16b/html5/thumbnails/23.jpg)
Refined way of defining acts as morally right/wrong
What produces general happiness (GHP)
What we should compel people to do or avoid
MORALITY
![Page 24: J.S. Mill, Utilitarianism - UBC Blogsblogs.ubc.ca/phil102/files/2015/02/MillUtil-all-102-F15.pdf · J.S. Mill, Utilitarianism (1863) PHIL 102, UBC Summer 2015 Christina Hendricks](https://reader034.fdocuments.in/reader034/viewer/2022042102/5e7e709ce088fd02ab60e16b/html5/thumbnails/24.jpg)
Question 2:
Would utilitarianism allow people to act unjustly if that would promote more happiness in a group overall?
![Page 25: J.S. Mill, Utilitarianism - UBC Blogsblogs.ubc.ca/phil102/files/2015/02/MillUtil-all-102-F15.pdf · J.S. Mill, Utilitarianism (1863) PHIL 102, UBC Summer 2015 Christina Hendricks](https://reader034.fdocuments.in/reader034/viewer/2022042102/5e7e709ce088fd02ab60e16b/html5/thumbnails/25.jpg)
Still…
Are there exceptions to rules of justice? • Yes and no… (22)
![Page 26: J.S. Mill, Utilitarianism - UBC Blogsblogs.ubc.ca/phil102/files/2015/02/MillUtil-all-102-F15.pdf · J.S. Mill, Utilitarianism (1863) PHIL 102, UBC Summer 2015 Christina Hendricks](https://reader034.fdocuments.in/reader034/viewer/2022042102/5e7e709ce088fd02ab60e16b/html5/thumbnails/26.jpg)
Act vs Rule utilitarianismA distinction that didn’t exist when Mill was writing • AU: moral value of acts judged by utility
of consequences of those (kinds of) acts • RU: moral value of acts judged by
whether they follow rules; rules judged by utility of their consequences if generally accepted and/or followed
![Page 27: J.S. Mill, Utilitarianism - UBC Blogsblogs.ubc.ca/phil102/files/2015/02/MillUtil-all-102-F15.pdf · J.S. Mill, Utilitarianism (1863) PHIL 102, UBC Summer 2015 Christina Hendricks](https://reader034.fdocuments.in/reader034/viewer/2022042102/5e7e709ce088fd02ab60e16b/html5/thumbnails/27.jpg)
Act utilitarianism Rule utilitarianism
Principle of u?lity (e.g., Mill’s GHP)
Act R/W?
Principle of u?lity (e.g., Mill’s GHP)
Act R/W? Act R/W? Rules with high acceptance and/or obedience u?lity
Act R/W? Act R/W? Act R/W?