Utilitarianism :An action is right if it is useful
Before the actual stuff
Welcome to the blog post on utilitarianism, where i have explored the ethical theory that suggests that the right action is the one that maximizes overall happiness for the greatest number of people.
Now if that reminds you of a certain character from MCU , yep thats what Thanos is all about .
But before we dive into the nitty-gritty of this philosophical concept, let’s take a quick detour through the land of ancient Greek stories and ethical theories.
You know, just to lighten the mood a bit. Have you heard the one about the philosopher who walked into a bar? No? Well, that’s because they were too busy debating the virtues of hedonism.
And what about the one where Socrates and Plato are sitting in a hot tub and Socrates says, “Plato, do you believe in ethical relativism or ethical absolutism?” To which Plato replies, “I can’t decide, the water’s too hot.” Okay, maybe those aren’t the funniest jokes, but at least you can say you learned something about philosophy while reading this intro.
Now, back to our regularly scheduled programming on utilitarianism.
Some Stories form the archives of ethical philosophy
- The story of the Good Samaritan
- The story of King Solomon and the baby
- Ring of Gyges
- Boy who Cried Wolf
1. Good Samaritan: Told by Jesus in the New Testament, tells the tale of a man who is robbed and left for dead on the side of the road. A priest and a Levite pass by without stopping to help, but a Samaritan, who was considered an outsider by the other two men, stops to help the man and takes him to an inn to be cared for. The story is often used to teach the lesson of compassion and the importance of helping those in need, regardless of whether they are part of one’s own community or not.
2. King Solomon and the baby: two women come to King Solomon with a baby, each claiming to be the child’s mother. Solomon offers to cut the baby in half and give each woman half, but the real mother agrees to give up her claim to the child in order to save its life. Solomon then declares her to be the true mother and gives her the baby. This story is often used to teach the lesson of selflessness and the importance of putting the needs of others before one’s own desires.
3. Ring of Gyges: Story coming from Plato, involves a shepherd who discovers a ring that makes him invisible when he wears it. The shepherd then uses the ring to satisfy his own desires, including stealing and committing other crimes, without fear of being caught. The story is often used to explore the concept of moral relativism, or the idea that what is right or wrong depends on the individual or society.
4. Boy Who Cried Wolf: Story, which has its roots in ancient Aesop’s fables, tells the tale of a boy who repeatedly tricks his neighbors by falsely crying “wolf” and then laughing at their reactions. Eventually, when a real wolf appears, the boy cries out for help, but no one believes him because he has lied so many times before. The story is often used to teach the lesson of honesty and the importance of telling the truth.
Some famous Ethical Philosophies :
- Utilitarianism
- Deontology
- Kantianism
- Virtue Ethics
- Confucianism
1. Utilitarianism: holds that the best action is the one that maximizes overall well-being or happiness. It is based on the idea that the moral worth of an action is determined by its ability to promote the greatest amount of happiness or pleasure for the greatest number of people.
2. Deontology: moral worth of an action is determined by whether it adheres to a set of rules or duties. Deontologists believe that certain actions, such as telling the truth or keeping promises, are morally right in and of themselves, regardless of their consequences.
3. Kantianism: based on the ideas of the German philosopher Immanuel Kant. Kant believed that the moral worth of an action is determined by whether it is done from a sense of duty, rather than from a desire for personal gain or reward. He argued that the moral law is based on the concept of the “categorical imperative,” which is a universal moral principle that applies to all rational beings.
4. Virtue ethics: Virtue ethics is a moral philosophy that emphasizes the role of character and virtue in ethical decision-making. Virtue ethicists believe that a person’s moral character, rather than the consequences of their actions, is the most important factor in determining the morality of their behavior.
5. Confucianism: Confucianism is a moral philosophy that is based on the teachings of the Chinese philosopher Confucius. Confucianism emphasizes the importance of social relationships and the need to behave with integrity, compassion, and respect towards others. It also emphasizes the importance of education and self-improvement.
Introduction :
Utilitarianism is a moral theory that suggests that an action is right if it leads to the greatest overall good for the greatest number of people. According to utilitarianism, the right action is the one that maximizes utility, which is defined as the overall happiness, satisfaction, or well-being of all individuals affected by the action.
Utilitarianism has its roots in the classical liberalism of philosophers like John Locke and John Stuart Mill, who argued that the purpose of government and society is to promote the greatest happiness of the greatest number. Mill, in particular, was a strong advocate of utilitarianism and argued that it is the duty of society to promote the greatest happiness of all its members, as this will ultimately lead to the greatest overall good.
Development of the theory :
Part A : Role of Jhon Locke
About John Locke he was a philosopher who is often credited as a founding father of classical liberalism and a key proponent of the social contract theory. In terms of his views on utilitarianism, Locke believed that the primary purpose of government and society is to promote the happiness and well-being of all individuals. He argued that the government should act in the best interests of the people and work towards the common good. Locke’s views on utilitarianism were influential in the development of the theory and can be seen in the ideas of later philosophers, such as John Stuart Mill, who was a strong advocate of utilitarianism.
Moving forward in the development of the Jhon Stuart Mill’s role in the development in the theory of “Utilitarianism”.
Part B : About Jhon Stuart Mill
J.S Mill was a 19th century philosopher who was a leading advocate of utilitarianism . He believed that the right action is the one that maximizes utility, which is defined as the overall happiness, satisfaction, or well-being of all individuals affected by the action.
Mill also argued that utility should be the sole principle of morality and that actions should be evaluated based on their consequences, rather than on any inherent moral qualities. He believed that the moral value of an action should be determined by its impact on society as a whole, rather than by its impact on a single individual or group.
In addition to his work on utilitarianism, Mill is known for his contributions to the fields of economics, political theory, and social reform.
In Context of Pakistan :
In the context of Pakistan, utilitarianism could be applied to a variety of ethical issues and policy decisions, such as how to distribute resources, how to allocate healthcare resources, or how to balance individual rights with the common good. For example, a government or policy maker might consider the potential consequences of different actions on the well-being of the population as a whole, and choose the option that is likely to produce the greatest overall happiness or well-being.
It is important to note that utilitarianism is just one ethical theory, and there may be other ethical frameworks that could be used to analyze and make decisions about moral issues in Pakistan. Additionally, utilitarianism can be a controversial theory, as it can sometimes be difficult to measure and compare the happiness or suffering of different individuals or groups, and it may not always be clear how to balance the needs of different stakeholders.
Pro Features of Utilitarianism :
One key aspect of utilitarianism is its focus on the consequences of an action. Utilitarian’s believe that the rightness or wrongness of an action should be determined by its consequences, rather than by any inherent moral quality. This means that an action that may seem wrong or immoral in the abstract can still be considered right if it leads to the greatest overall good.
For example, consider a situation where a doctor must choose between saving the life of a single patient or saving the lives of five patients. According to utilitarianism, the right action would be to save the lives of the five patients, as this would lead to the greatest overall good for the greatest number of people.
Another key aspect of utilitarianism is its focus on the collective good. Utilitarian’s believe that the moral value of an action should be determined by its impact on society as a whole, rather than by its impact on a single individual or group. This means that an action that may seem good for one person or group may still be considered wrong if it leads to negative consequences for society as a whole.
For example, consider a situation where a company must choose between building a new factory in a small town or a large city. According to utilitarianism, the right action would be to build the factory in the large city, as this would lead to the greatest overall good for society. The small town may benefit from the new factory, but the large city would likely benefit more, as it has a larger population and a more diverse economy.
Segway into the cons of this theory .
Cons of Utilitarianism in Theory:
Utilitarianism holds its best practice in the form of inputs that are productive in the direction of actions that maximizes overall well-being or happiness.
While utilitarianism has many supporters and has had a significant influence on moral and political theory, it also has a number of criticisms and limitations.
Rights of the individuals
One major criticism of utilitarianism is that it does not take into account the moral rights of individuals. Utilitarianism is concerned with maximizing overall well-being, but it does not consider the moral value of individual rights or the dignity of individual persons. This can lead to moral conclusions that are counterintuitive or seem unfair, such as the idea that it would be moral to sacrifice the well-being of a few individuals for the greater good.
Flaw in the quantification of happiness:
Another criticism of utilitarianism is that it can be difficult to accurately measure overall well-being or happiness. How do we determine what counts as well-being or happiness? And how do we compare the well-being of different people or groups? These are complex and subjective questions that utilitarianism does not have clear answers to.
Consequences vs Intent :
Utilitarianism also tends to be more concerned with consequences than with intentions. This means that it is not concerned with whether an action was done for good reasons or with good intentions, but rather with the overall consequences of the action. This can lead to the conclusion that it is moral to do something that is normally considered wrong, as long as it leads to a net increase in overall well-being.
Whom to blame ? :
Finally, utilitarianism has been criticized for its lack of concern for moral duties or obligations. According to utilitarianism, the moral value of an action is determined solely by its consequences, and there is no inherent moral value in fulfilling one’s duties or obligations. This can lead to a lack of motivation to fulfill moral duties or to treat others with respect and fairness.
Take the example of the famous “trolley problem” , a classic thought experiment in ethics, a trolley is running out of control and heading towards a group of five people who will be killed if the trolley continues on its current course. The problem presents the reader with a dilemma: should the reader divert the trolley onto a side track, even though doing so would result in the death of one person who is on the side track?
There is no easy answer to this problem, and different people will have different moral views on what the correct course of action should be. Some may argue that it is better to sacrifice one person to save five, while others may believe that it is never acceptable to intentionally cause the death of another person, no matter how many lives may be saved.
Now From a utilitarian perspective, the person who makes the decision to divert the trolley is not necessarily to blame for the death of the person on the side track. Instead, the decision to divert the trolley is seen as a necessary action that was taken in order to maximize overall happiness or well-being. However, some utilitarians may argue that the person who designed the trolley or allowed it to run out of control is to blame for the situation, as they are ultimately responsible for the deaths that would have occurred if the trolley had not been diverted.
What not to expect from this theory:
In summary, while utilitarianism has many supporters and has had a significant influence on moral and political theory, it also has a number of criticisms and limitations. It does not take into account the moral rights of individuals, it can be difficult to measure overall well-being or happiness, it is more concerned with consequences than with intentions, and it lacks concern for moral duties or obligations.
Conclusion :
Utilitarianism a moral theory that proposes that the best course of action is the one that maximizes overall well-being or happiness for the greatest number of people. It emphasizes the consequences of an action, rather than any inherent moral quality, and focuses on the collective good, rather than the well-being of a single individual or group. However, it has been criticized for not taking into account the moral rights of individuals, for its difficulty in accurately measuring overall well-being or happiness, and for its lack of concern for moral duties or obligations. Utilitarianism is a theory that can help guide moral decision-making, but it is important to consider its limitations when applying it to real-world situations.
