Thesis on "Utilitarianism the Philosophy of Utilitarianism Has Serious"

Thesis 5 pages (1787 words) Sources: 5 Style: APA

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Utilitarianism

The philosophy of utilitarianism has serious flaws in terms of the larger and more complex aspects of its relationship to reality. As a theoretical and moral stance, utilitarianism posits the view that the value and moral worth of any action or intention is strictly related to its general and overall utility. Utility is commonly defined as; "The quality or state of being useful; usefulness; production of good…" (Utility: ARD).The word utility is central to the understanding of the ethos that pervades this view of life. The moral and ethical value of any action is therefore related to the way that this action contributes to the happiness, pleasure and well-being of the greatest number of people. As will be discussed, central to this theory is the issue of consequentialism. This refers to the view that that the moral validity and value of an action is determined by its consequences or outcomes.

A common definition of utilitarianism is as follows: "Utilitarianism is a modern form of the Hedonistic ethical theory which teaches that the end of human conduct is happiness, and that consequently the discriminating norm which distinguishes conduct into right and wrong is pleasure and pain" (Utilitarianism). In classical utilitarianism this reduces the moral measure of any action to the two axes of pleasure and pain and is a central aspect of the critique of this theory that will be expanded on the following sections. Another definition of utilitarianism goes further in explaining the way that morals and ethics are related to outcomes. "Utilitarianism is a moral philosophy, generally operating on the principle that the utility (happiness or satisfaction) of different people can not only be measured but also meaningfully summed over people and that utility comparisons between people are meaningful" (Utilitarianism: About Com.)

One of the most respected advocates of this theory, John Stuart Mill, expands on the concept of the Greatest Happiness Principle.

The creed which accepts as the foundation of morals, Utility, or the Greatest Happiness Principle, holds that actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness. By happiness is intended pleasure, and the absence of pain; by unhappiness, pain, and the privation of pleasure

(Mill, 'UTILITARIANISM'. Chapter 2).

While the origins of this theory and the emphasis on pleasure and pain as a measurement of morality can be found in the writings of the Greek philosopher Epicurus, the modern foundations of this school of thought are ascribed to the work of Jeremy Bentham. Bentham linked the principle of utility to the experiential poles of pleasure and pain. From this he derived his view and understanding of the term utility and moral good;"…the good is whatever brings the greatest happiness to the greatest number of people, human beings" (Hostility and the Minimization of Suffering). James Mill expanded on the principle of utility that Bentham had suggested.

The theoretical and moral justification for Mills' view of harm can be found in utilitarianism. According to this view, "… actions are right or wrong solely in virtue of consequences they have on human well-being or happiness. " (John Stuart Mill's "On Liberty") According to his principle of utility, "…actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness; wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness" (John Stuart Mill: Overview)

As referred to, this theoretical and ethical stance is closely linked to the concept of consequentialism or the view that moral and normative aspects or properties depend "…only on consequences" (Consequentialism). Therefore, from this perspective an action is morally right in relation to the consequences of that act. This is a central facet of classical utilitarianism. As such it is directly opposed to other theoretical stances, such as deontology. It has been severely criticized for ignoring other factors and aspects that might affect the moral value of action. "It denies that moral rightness depends directly on anything other than consequences, such as whether the agent promised in the past to do the act now" (Consequentialism).

2. The dilemma within utilitarianism

The first dilemma that is evident from the above discussion of this theoretical stance is the way that it relates to the complexity of reality. While it does cover some ethical and moral aspects, it is essentially limited in terms of the various aspects of moral and ethical behavior. The second fundamental critique of this theory is that within the framework of the theory it neglects to take account of the individual self and the individual's motivation, as a central component of ethical decision-making and action.

In its focus on the 'greater good', as a theory it places itself in a position in which it cannot account for many actions and intentions that are deemed to be morally correct within the social and philosophical nexus. Simply stated, while utilitarianism has some validity it fails in that it reduces all legitimate moral value to the group and to outcomes. As a theory it is not only biased and privileges the group good over the individual, but it also privileges quantifiable aspect of moral behavior over quality. In other words, it assumes that the good of many is morally more justifiable than the good actions of a single individual. These are theoretical prejudices that make this theory suspect in terms of a comprehensive moral philosophy and outlook. As one commentator has noted, in terms of classical utilitarianism the following scenario might apply.

Bentham's theory could mean that if 10 people would be happy watching a man being eaten by wild dogs, it would be a morally good thing for the 10 men to kidnap someone (especially someone whose death would not cause grief to many others) and throw the man into a cage of wild, hungry dogs.

(Utilitarianism: An Introduction to the Moral Theories of Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill)

A major part of the critique of utilitarianism lies in its overemphasis on consequentialism. By placing extreme emphasis on this aspect utilitarianism opens itself to accusations of bias and selfishness. This can also be seen in the "pleasure principle" and the way that reality and experience is divided into the dualisms of pain and pleasure. This has led to the critique that certain forms of utilitarianism are hedonistic and selfish.

However, the central dilemma and critique of this theory is that it is reductionist. In other words, utilitarianism tends to reduce all moral and ethical actions and values to the level of number or consequence. This means that all other moral actions, including subjective intentions that do not fall within the ambit of these aspects, are considered to be of no real moral value. This would fro instance exclude actions that are intended to be moral and helpful but which do not necessarily has a positive outcome. This results in the common criticism of utilitarianism; namely that it "… fails to consider some sources of value, and that it will therefore produce the wrong results when these different sources conflict" (Most Common Criticisms of Utilitarianism)

The fundamental critiques discussed above lead to other considerations of the theory; for example, the critique of Bentham's 'hedonistic calculus'. The term felicific calculus which is referred to in Bentham's work Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation (1789) is "…a method of working out the sum total of pleasure and pain produced by an act, and thus the total value of its consequences" (Hedonic Calculus) This view probably sums up the central criticism and dilemma of utilitarianism. In essence, this theory means that utilitarian belief is that happiness and morel value are inextricably linked and, furthermore, that moral value can be calculated in order to determine the sum of an action and its consequences. Bentham also believed that it was possible to envisage a calculus that "… could be used for criminal law reform: given a crime of a certain kind it would be possible to work out the minimum penalty necessary for its prevention" (Hedonic Calculus). This theory is one that denies or does not take account of the humanist and individualistic aspects of life and morality. In addition, it also does not take account of the fact that moral actions may be justified and right, without necessarily leading to happiness. Utilitarianism as a moral philosophy therefore conflicts with the view of morality as justice and not necessarily linked to personal feelings or enjoyment.

3. Conclusion

In essence, the central dilemma that utilitarianism faces as moral theory is that it denies and excludes other moral possibilities and in its emphasis on consequences fails to deal with moral action that does not lead to consequences. As has been discussed above, this reductionism denies aspects such as individual action and intention and excludes aspects of morality that cannot be measured. It is therefore biased towards forms of morality or moral value that are only quantifiable and does not take account of the quality of moral action. Furthermore, this reductionism extends to the issue of the pain and pleasure principles.… READ MORE

How to Reference "Utilitarianism the Philosophy of Utilitarianism Has Serious" Thesis in a Bibliography

Related Thesis Papers:

Commercialization of Organ Transplants Research Paper

This is often ignored, but should be clearly addressed.

The Argument Against the Commercialization of Transplants

Those who argue against the commercialization of organs for transplantation, as does this research,… read more

Research Paper 4 pages (1294 words) Sources: 3 Topic: Philosophy / Logic / Reason

---

Sandel or Stevenson Globalization Research Paper

Sandel or Stevenson

Globalization has brought the world closer in communication, economics, politics, and especially business. The Internet and technological improvements have allowed instantaneous communication almost anywhere. The idea of… read more

Research Paper 2 pages (843 words) Sources: 2 Topic: Philosophy / Logic / Reason

---

Rational Utilitarian Thesis

Utilitarianism and Society

Though it arose through the disciplines of philosophy, political science, and economics, utilitarianism or rationalism has many implications for sociology. Because it is concerned with the individual… read more

Thesis 3 pages (979 words) Sources: 1 Style: APA Topic: Sociology / Society

---

Ethical and Legal Aspects of Therapeutic Relationships Essay

Ethical and Legal Aspects of Therapeutic Relationships

MEDICAL HERBALIST

Daniel was a 19-year-old male suffering from mild depression. His family was well aware of the situation, and had obtained various… read more

Essay 8 pages (2640 words) Sources: 1+ Topic: Ethics / Morality

---

Consequentialism Faces a Number of Objections Term Paper

Consequentialism faces a number of objections. Which are the most serious, and do they render the theory unsuitable as a guide to criminal justice practice?

Substantive moral theories in modern… read more

Term Paper 13 pages (3490 words) Sources: 8 Style: Harvard Topic: Ethics / Morality

---

View 100+ more related papers  >>