Ethics notes Feb. 19
UTILITARIANISM: A philosophical approach in which you attempt to MAXIMIZE HAPPINESS and minimize pain for the greatest number of people.
Utilitarianism consists of two main elements:
1)THEORY OF VALUE--(HEDONISM)contends that happiness alone is INTRINSIC in value, meaning that it is valuable in and of itself. It is here that most utilitarians come into conflict over the question of there being other values of INTRINSIC worth: KNOWLEDGE, FREEDOM, SPIRITUALITY, BEAUTY, ART, ACHIEVEMENT, RELATIONSHIPS, and HEALTH(?) were some examples given in class of values of possible
INTRINSIC worth.We are refered to NOZICK'S EXPERIANCE MACHINE, a machine you could be hooked up to where you would experiance whichever perfect life you could imagine for yourself, highest pleasure without pain,(the machine is similar to the one in the sci-fi film "total recall" ). The fact that most people opt not to be hooked up to this hypothetical machine is indicative of there being values other than happiness that have INTRINSIC worth.
Second,(2) is the THEORY OF ACTION-- (CONSEQUENTIALISM)Focusing upon the RIGHT ACT
--being that act which MAXIMIZES HAPPINESS.
Here we see that although some suffering and pain may be inflicted upon yourself and others through your actions, should the happiness created outweigh that pain--those actions, even murder, become morally right.
You have NO RIGHTS OR OBLIGATIONS other than those springing from MAXIMIZING HAPPINESS.
The amalgamation of HEDONISM and CONSEQUENTIALISM is what is known as UTILITARIANISM. Here are the critisisms from class: 1)TOO DEMANDING. The self sacrifices called for in order to maximize happiness for the many call for all your happiness to be forfiet, for you are ONE and they are MANY.
(class eg: buying CDs over sending $ to "3rd
world" countries.)2)TOO PERMISSIVE. Allows seemingly immoral acts to be committed in the name of "THE COMMON GOOD". "The ends justifies the means" is a utilitarian proverb.(eg: organ transplants needed to save 5 people, it is the doctor's MORAL OBLIGATION under util. principles to kill the healthy young student having his tonsils out in order to save the 5.)continues FEB. 21