Utilitarianism

Utilitarianism

Jeremy Bentham (1748-1842 CE)

John Stuart Mill (1806-1873 CE)

Goodness/rightness and badness/wrongness are located in the consequences an act (consequentialism).

An act that increases happiness or pleasure (or minimizes unhappiness and suffering) is right and good; act that decreases happiness or causes suffering is wrong and bad.

Theory based on act, rather than act based on theory.

Bentham’s “Calculus of Felicity”

• Intensity (How intense is the pleasure?)

• Duration (How long does the pleasure last?)

• Certainty (How sure is the pleasure?)

• Proximity (How soon will the pleasure be experienced?)

• Fecundity (How many more pleasures will follow?)

• Purity (How free from pain is the pleasure?)

• Extent (How many people will experience pleasure? [social not personal hedonism])

Each person mustdecide for him/herself

The Quantity of Pleasure“The creed which accepts as the foundation of morals utility, or the

greatest happiness principle, holds that actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness. By ‘happiness’ is intended pleasure, and the absence of pain; by ‘unhappiness,’ pain, and the privation of pleasure.”

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The Quality of PleasureWhat is it?

What is the nature of its value?

“Higher” and “lower” pleasures?

Mill’s ConcernWhat decisions are totally private?

How can we advance civilization if morality is personal preference?

Should tax dollars be spent on…

• Mill’s solution: only the “competent” get a say.

• You have to have experienced college, tax refunds, and parties, to “vote.”

Acts vs. Rules

5 Transplants

Smoking on Campus: The Current Situation

Smoking in restricted areas only.

Smoking tents.

Parking lots.

No smoking within 25 of buildings.

No tobacco products sold on campus.

Perceptions of what’s working and not?

REDWOODS COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT BP 3570

For the purposes of this policy, smoking shall mean all uses of tobacco, including but not limited to cigar smoking, cigarette smoking, pipe smoking, and chewing tobacco. In order to protect students and staff who choose not to smoke from an unhealthy environment, the Board prohibits smoking within buildings or facilities owned or leased by the District.

Smoking is not allowed except in designated smoking areas and campus parking lots which are at least twenty-five feet from buildings. These designated areas will be clearly marked as “Smoking Areas” and are noted on campus maps. All other smoking and tobacco use in and on College of the Redwoods is expresslyprohibited. Furthermore, smoking is not allowed in college owned or leased vehicles. Violators will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action. Tobacco and related products will not be sold or promoted on any other campus of the District.

“In order to protect students and staff who choose not to smoke from an unhealthy environment, the Board prohibits smoking within buildings or facilities owned or leased by the District.”

Is CR morally obligated to provide this protection?

“In order to protect students and staff who choose not to smoke from an unhealthy environment….

Does CR’s obligation to protect from an unhealthy environment extend beyond non-smoking staff and students?

“In order to protect students and staff who choose not to smoke from an unhealthy environment…

Is CR morally obligated to protect students who choose to smoke from an unhealthy environment?

“In order to protect….”

What constitutes protection?

Smoking on Campus: A Utilitarian ApproachAn act that increases happiness or pleasure (or minimizes unhappiness and suffering) is right; act that decreases happiness or causes suffering is wrong.

• Intensity (How intense is the pleasure/suffering?)

• Duration (How long does the pleasure/suffering last?)

• Certainty (How sure is the pleasure/suffering?)

• Proximity (How soon will the pleasure/suffering be experienced?)

• Fecundity (How many more pleasures/sufferings will follow?)

• Purity (How free from pain is the pleasure?)

• Extent (How many people will experience pleasure/suffering?)

Should CR….

Provide free smoking cessation programs?

Sell tobacco products?

Allow cigarette advertising on campus?

Allow anti-tobacco ads/demonstrations on campus?

You’re on Trial Accused of MurderJudge Subjectivist

Judge Emotivist

Judge Relativist

Judge Ethical Egoist

Judge Rule-Utilitarian

Judge Act-Utilitarian