Monday 20 Sept 2004: P.149-153 (EMP)

Utilitarianism (149)

• Nonreligious ancestors of 20^th century secular humanists – optimistic
• Utilitarians act not in the name of justice but for the greatest good
• Only punish if it serves as a deterrent
• The threat of punishment is important; it must be used because of human failing
• Consequentialist Principle – teleological aspect à rightness determined by results (ends, not means, count)
• Utility Principle – hedonic aspect à pleasure is the only good, pain is the only evil
• Hedonic Calculus – quantitative score for an experience obtained by summing seven aspects of pleasure/painful experience
• Intensity, Duration, Certainty, Nearness, Fruitfulness, Purity, Extent
• Simplistic; called pig-philosophy because a happy pig > dissatisfied Socrates
• Eudemonistic (Mill’s ver) – defines happiness by types of pleasures (high – intel, creativity, spirit; lower – eat, drink, sex, rest)
• Lower pleasures more intensely gratifying but too much leads to pain
• Higher pleasures are superior

Two types of of Utilitarianism (151)

• Act-utilitarianism – an act is only right if it results in as much good as any other alternative
• Rule-utilitarianism – act right only if it is required by a rule whose acceptance would lead to > utility for society
• Debated whether this is valid because you can always do more good by going beyond the rules
• Levels of rules – three levels of rules to guide actions
• 1 (top priority)) remainder rule – when no other rule applies, use your best judgment
• 2) conflict-resolving rules
• 3) utility-maximizing rules (must always be followed)
• Negative responsibility – you are responsible for the actions you take and don’t take

Hiroshima: The First Use of Nuclear Weapons (1861) (Velasquez, Rostonkowski) (59) (CSME)