kellie douglas thursday 2/21/02

utilitarianism -do what you got to do to maximize the need of happiness.

Criticism of utilitarianism
too demanding too permissive
doesnt tell us how to decide between a small good for a great number, or a greater good for a smaller number

Communist thinking "from each according to his ability. TO each according to his need."
Utilitarians would disagree with this statement because it leads to poor economy.

hedons-units of happiness
4 billion people x 5 hedons = 20 billion hedons
2 billion people x 20 hedons = 20 billion hedons
20 billion x 1 hedon = 20 billion hedons
1 billion x 10 hedons = 10 billion
10 billion x 1 hedon = 10 billion hedons

criticism to utilitarianism
too difficult to calculate consequences
Bentham created the hedonistic calculus
need to consider the following:
*intensity
*fecundity- leads to other pleasure
*duration
pleasure - pain = net pleasure of happiness

Mill- defends Bentham's law he believes you can use rules of thumb as a praticle guide -break when needed-

criticism to utilitarianism
people just use the hedonist calculus to rationalize decisions you have already made.

Utilitarianist would say its not wrong to kill 1 person who is inocent, in order to save 5 others the only thing that is wrong is the social consequences

Objections to Criticism
1)Too permissive
Utilitarians reply: Negative side effect
organ transplants
fear of hospital
spread of disease
death of treatment
prison cost
hanging
loss of faith in justice system
fear

critics reply:
1) Isnt it wrong to kill innocent person because of what you do to themn not the social consequences
2)Publicaly requirement- if you dont get caught there are no social consequences

Utilitarians reply: "too permissive"
our moral intuitions about killing innocent people are wrong.
There stronger moral intuition in favor of utilitarians
fat man example:
4 die (drown)
1 lives (fat man)
or
1 killed (fat man)
4 live (get out)