Criticisms of Utilitarianism
1. too demanding
2. too permissive
3. too difficult to calculate the consequences
4. there's more to life than pleasure or happiness -Nozick's experience machine
Response: Mill's higher(intellectual, cultural) and lower(physical,blue collar) pleasures.
5.crass hedonism
Objections to mill
1. bourgeois elitism
2. trying to smuggle values other than pleasure in to utilitarianism i.e. knowledge, art, religion, freedom
Look at the "Brave New World" exert in the text...Mustapha Mond represents utilitarianism and the Savage says that there is a lot missing from his point of view.
6. How long do you have to wait until you know you've done right?
Mill's response: Wait long enough. Short time for small things, a long time for large things.
WILLIAMS-"Utilitarianism makes people compromise their integrity"
1. George offered bio-warfare jog
2. Jim and Pedro
-kill 1, 9 live
-10 die, Jim doesn't participate
Morality can't require us to participate in evil (that good may come)
Deonthology not on this exam.
Make sure you've read "Walk away from Omala"