Utilitarianism

1
Utilitarianism

• Lecture 2
• Dealing with uncertainty
• Utilitarianism and absolutism
• Utilitarianism and the good

2
Objections so far

• Pig philosophy
• Motivationally too demanding
• Not enough time to calculate

3
Uncertainty

• Objection Often uncertain of consequences, so
  cant identify the action that maximizes
  happiness
• Reply In cases of uncertainty, choose the action
  that offers the best prospect

4
Choosing the best prospect

• Use degrees of confidence to assign probabilities
  to consequences
• Weigh possible consequences by both probability
  and goodness

5
Example

• Options
• Spend small budget on medications (A)
• Spend money on lottery tickets and winnings on
  medication (B)
• B has a possible consequence that is very good,
  but its probability is very low
• A is a better prospect than B

6
Moral absolutism

• Claims that morality absolutely prohibits certain
  actions, no matter how good their consequences
• Example inviolable rights
• Utilitarian rights are embedded in institutions
• Is this good enough?

7
Ex. 1 Sacrifice a healthy patient?

• Absolutist Utilitarian must say yes
• Reply no, because of long-term and indirect
  consequences
• Medical rights thus function as good subordinate
  principles

8
Ex. 2 Sacrifice a disaster victim?

• Absolutist Utilitarian must say yes
• Reply In unusual circumstances, yes is the right
  answer
• Attachment to subordinate principles may make it
  feel wrong
• Its a case of choosing the lesser of 2 evils

9
Ex. 3 Kill innocent person to save hostages?

• Difference from example 2 human production of
  the greater evil
• Absolutist shows clearly that you bear a special
  responsibility for what you do, as opposed to
  what merely happens in consequence of what you do
• Utilitarian must deny this

10
Doctrine of negative responsibility

• Statement You are as responsible for any outcome
  you could prevent, and not merely those you
  directly bring about
• Utilitarian endorses this
• Absolutist denies it

11
Ex. 4 Sophies Choice

• Agent relative obligations and permissions?
• Utilitarianism says no, except for subordinate
  principles
• Nonconsequentialist can make room for these

12
Ex. 5 Trumans decision

• Truman gave a consequentialist argument
• This could be challenged
• But absolutists could say that it was wrong even
  if it maximized human welfare

13
Utilitarianism and the good

• Happiness is a mental state, a quality of
  experience
• Example the deluded physician
• Example the experience machine

14
Utilitarianism and the good (2)

• Examples suggest that the good is more than a
  mental state
• Can utilitarianism accommodate this?
• Might have to abandon the ideal observer method
• Might have to appeal to moral notions
• This would depart from consequentialism