UTILITARIANISM. Bentham and Mill. Phil 102B Nina Rosenstand

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1 UTILITARIANISM Bentham and Mill Phil 102B Nina Rosenstand

2 WHAT IS UTILITARIANISM? One of the most popular and powerful moral philosophies in the past 200 years Focuses on utility, usefulness: what is useful/pleasurable is good, what is harmful/painful is bad (TMTS p.232) The Principle of Utility: We should always maximize happiness for as many as possible, including ourselves (TMTS p. 232) A consequentialist philosophy: only consequences of our actions count, not good intentions (TMTS p.232) Other consequentialist moral philosophies: ethical egoism, altruism

3 The 1700s in the West: The Enlightenment Also known as The Age of Reason. Key concept: reason solves all problems. A brief history timeline: 1900s-today: Modern times 1800s: The Romantic Era. The Industrial Revolution. 1700s: The Enlightenment; revolutions 1600s: Beginning appreciation for rights of the individual. 1500s: Reformation; wars between Catholics and Protestants 1400: the Renaissance; revival of Greek and Roman ideals : the High Middle Ages in Europe; universities open up, as religious institutions Ca : the Middle Ages; the Catholic Church rules Europe Ca.200 B.C.E.-400 C.E.: The Roman Empire Ca B.C.E: Greek antiquity

4 JEREMY BENTHAM ( ) Enlightenment philosopher, focusing on the power of reason to solve problems (p ) Day job: a jurist, trying to reform the British corrupt legal system Famous for: (1) launching utilitarianism as a universal problem-solver (2) having his corpse preserved and placed on display at annual board meetings at the University College of London (p.233) Bentham s method: the hedonistic/hedonic calculus: rank prospective pros and cons according to a scale of values, and choose the course of action that will bring about the most pleasure overall, for as many as possible/limit misery for as many as possible (p ) Example: In doubt whether you should get married? Line up the pros and the cons, add a number to them in terms of their pleasure/pain potential, and do the math! (p.239)

5 WHY HAS BENTHAM S SOLUTION BEEN SO POPULAR? It takes every person into account. Everybody s pain and pleasure is important. Very egalitarian, reflecting the Enlightenment focus on the importance of the individual. It can also include animal welfare, as the first moral philosophy in the West. Anyone who can feel pleasure and pain is part of the moral universe of utilitarianism. (p ) It s easy to work with, anyone can do it.

6 Sounds simple so what s the problem? The future is uncertain how can we calculate what s going to happen? And for how long? (p.240) The system can be rigged, because if we re biased toward a course of action, we can doctor the numbers so the calculation works out for us (p.239). The worst problem: The problem of sheer numbers: people are reduced to numbers in a calculus, and minorities can be sacrificed for the common good, as long as the overall results are more positive than negative. (p ) Examples: Use of torture; sweat shops; even human sacrifice???

7 JOHN STUART MILL ( ) Probably the most influential 19 th century philosopher in the English-speaking world Began his career as an economist, but was transformed into a moral philosopher through the influence of Bentham and his wife, Harriet. Major areas of influence in moral philosophy: 1. The harm principle (=the liberty principle) (1859) 2. The theory of higher and lower pleasures: revision of utilitarianism (1863) 3. Women s rights (1867)

8 The Theory of Higher and Lower Pleasures (1863) Mill tries to rescue Bentham s philosophy from oblivion, because it has become politically incorrect: Pleasure is good does not appeal to Victorians (p ) His argument: Not all pleasures are physical; some are intellectual, and they are the valuable ones. His test : the higher pleasures are what those prefer who can appreciate both physical and intellectual pleasures. But he is not willing to accept the answer that some may prefer physical pleasures Upshot: Mill wants to make intellectual pleasures available to the masses because they will be happier that way. But will they?

9 The Harm Principle (1859) Mill is grieving over the loss of his wife (1858), and pours their favorite conversation topics into a book celebrating the right to privacy and liberty: On Liberty (1859) (p ) Key concept: The government should not interfere with what private citizens do, unless it causes harm to others. Over his own body, the individual is sovereign. Limitations to the principle: Only mature, reasonable adults should be allowed the freedom of the harm principle, not children or immature adults. Problem: Mill does not define clearly what exactly harm to others means. Physical harm? Emotional harm? Financial harm?

10 The Political Implications Not only should children and immature adults have guardians immature cultures / barbarians should also be managed by more mature (Western) cultures until they can embrace democracy. (p.259) What cultures is Mill talking about? Primarily India, because Mill was the chief administrator of the East India Company, and concerned about the recent (1857) violence in northern India called the Sepoy Mutiny. Mill has frequently been called a cultural imperialist. Is that fair? Or did he just have utilitarian notions of creating happiness for as many as possible, British style, with a preference for democracy over tyranny?

11 Mill s Fight for Women s Rights Mill was influenced by his good friend and wife, Harriet Taylor Mill, and her quest for women s rights. (p.251) In 1866 Mill was a member of the British Parliament, and proposed a law that would have made men and women completely legally equal, but the law was voted down. Instead he wrote a book, The Subjection of Women (1869), which became very influential and paved the way for women s rights in England. But by the time women got the right to vote (1919), Mill had passed on.

12 Mill s Timeline, a Very Personal Journey, Part : John Stuart is born. His father, James Mill, is a friend of Bentham s, and Jeremy Bentham becomes John s godfather. John is home schooled from the age of 3 to : John starts reading Bentham s works, and is fascinated 1825: John is hired by the company where his father works, the East India Company. 1826: John has a crisis, a nervous breakdown, but recovers through his own initiative. Later he blames it on (1) being lonely, (2) being dissatisfied with Bentham s utilitarianism, and (3) knowing everything about thinking, but nothing about feeling. 1831: John Stuart Mill meets Harriet Taylor, the wife of his mentor John Taylor. They continue an intellectual relationship for 20 years until her husband s death. 1851: John and Harriet get married, and Harriet publishes her first book, on women s rights.

13 Mill s Timeline, a Very Personal Journey, Part : The Sepoy Mutiny in Northern India, resulting in a blood bath of British soldiers and their families, followed by harsh retaliations by the British. Mill s East India Company is viewed as partially responsible, and Mill resigns. 1858: Harriet dies unexpectedly at the age of : Mill regroups and writes his first work on moral philosophy, On Liberty, giving credit to Harriet. 1863: Mill revises Bentham s utilitarianism 1866: Mill proposes a law of gender equality in the British Parliament 1869: Mill publishes his book on women s rights 1872: Mill dies.