The consequential theory of ethics is taken into account. The utility principle was developed because; it is natural to consider the consequences of our actions when deciding what to do. Hannah may decide to lie to protect her friend due to a drug accusation; on the other hand, if she admits the truth to the authorities, it will save her friend from becoming a drug addict.
Some critics say that, a strength of Bentham’s theory is the fact that, the hedonic calculus offers us a method for measuring pleasures. It considers seven factors whereby the balance of pain and pleasure is compared with those other options.
Utilitarianism is convenient because, it does not focus on the motive of the action but the results that the action will achieve. If it brings the greatest happiness to the greatest number (the majority) then the decision is morally good. If the murder of a criminal will bring will reduce the burglary incidents in a neighbourhood, thereby bringing happiness to the majority, then it is morally good.
However, utilitarianism has its weaknesses so far as the strengths. Philosophers such as J.S.Mill disagree with some of the conclusions.
One main problem of this theory is that, pleasure cannot be easily quantified. The hedonic calculus is not as straight forward as it seems. Different pleasures and pains cannot be easily quantified. The pleasure of seeing children grow up into adults cannot be compared with the pleasure of eating a chocolate bar. Likewise, the seven criteria of the hedonic calculus prove to be irrelevant.
In addition to that, the prediction of consequences cannot be easily predicted. The main fact is that, human beings are not predictable so does our outcomes of any action. The nuclear bomb that was thrown ended the world war but, it wasn’t predicted the number of people that were going to be killed or the nuclear fallout.
A more profound difficulty concerns the issue of Justice. Utilitarianism does not set out how pleasure should be distributed. It ensures that most people receive pleasure, but it guarantees nothing for the minority. The persecution of the Jews who were the minority is considered to be good if the greater population thought it was pleasurable.
Another significant problem is that, Jeremy Bentham’s theory gives some excuses for some immoral acts such as murder or torture. In comparison to J.S Mill’s theory that is deontological, Bentham’s is based on consequential theory. The actions of any decision what so ever is determined by the results and not the initial motive.
The ethical theory fails to consider different views on what happiness is. There is a common knowledge on what brings pleasure and what brings pain. But, different people have different perceptions on what they would consider pleasurable and painful. A masochist definitely has a different view on what happiness is since such people enjoy having pain inflicted upon them.
Despite the weaknesses, Utilitarianism has proved popular and useful in the centuries since its original formation. It remains persuasive due to its common sense approach to ethics.
ii) Is it justifiable to reject Utilitarianism?
The ethical theory so like many others has posed some difficulties. It falls into the naturalistic fallacy because; the theory assumes that goodness and pleasure is the same thing. This is not always the case.
Bentham’s theory makes no allowance for personal relationships. If your father and a scientist with a cure for cancer were drowning, the utilitarian response would be to save the scientist. This action is justified if it produces the greatest happiness to the greatest number. Utilitarianism therefore refuses to allow special responsibilities to our loved ones to override our actions which increase the sum total of human happiness, due to its democratic nature. All emotional attachments must be out aside to do the right thing.
On purely philosophical grounds, Bentham’s view of human nature is essentially passive: people are ‘pushed’ about or controlled by the search for pleasure and the avoidance of pain. Hence, there are no ‘bad’ motives or ‘moral’ deficiencies; there are only bad calculations regarding pleasure and pain.
Although Utilitarianism holds many criticisms in its approach to situations, it offers a more flexible approach that includes duties as well as preferences and happiness which might be more reasonable. Most people will obviously evaluate their actions in terms of consequences, it is plain human nature.
by
daisydollll (student)
