Introduction to Utilitarianism

“To what shall the character of utility be ascribed, if not to that which is a source of pleasure?” – Jeremy Bentham 1 1 Table of Contents Introduction Hedonism The “Evil Pleasures” Objection The Experience Machine Objection Desire Theories Bizarre Desires Changing Preferences Objective List Theories Is Objective Value “Spooky”? Alienation Practical Implications of Theories of Well-Being Conclusio...

This chapter introduces utilitarianism, and its major costs and benefits as a moral theory. The original text contained 12 footnotes which were omitted from this narration. --- First published: January 29th, 2023 Source: https://utilitarianism.net/introduction-to-utilitarianism --- Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO .

After defining utilitarianism, this chapter offers a detailed analysis of its four key elements (consequentialism, welfarism, impartiality, and aggregationism). It explains the difference between maximizing, satisficing, and scalar utilitarianism, and other important distinctions between utilitarian theories. The original text contained 30 footnotes which were omitted from this narration. --- Firs...

This chapter explains reflective equilibrium as a moral methodology, and presents several arguments for utilitarianism over non-consequentialist approaches to ethics. The original text contained 35 footnotes which were omitted from this narration. --- First published: January 29th, 2023 Source: https://utilitarianism.net/arguments-for-utilitarianism --- Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO .

Explores the three major theories of well-being, or what makes a life good for the individual living it: hedonism, desire theory, and objective list theory. The original text contained 38 footnotes which were omitted from this narration. --- First published: January 29th, 2023 Source: https://utilitarianism.net/theories-of-wellbeing --- Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO .

Population ethics tackles questions like how we should weigh new lives against existing lives, and how we should balance quantity and quality of life (when comparing different-sized populations). This chapter critically surveys five major approaches to population ethics: the total view, the average view, variable value theories, critical level (and critical range) theories, and person-affecting vi...

Utilitarianism has important implications for how we should think about leading an ethical life. Despite giving no intrinsic weight to deontic constraints, it supports many commonsense prohibitions and virtues in practice. Its main practical difference instead lies in its emphasis on positively doing good, in more expansive and efficient ways than people typically prioritize. The original text con...

There are several ways to reject aspects of utilitarianism while remaining on board with the general thrust of the theory (at least in practice). This chapter explores a range of such near-utilitarian views, to demonstrate the robustness of utilitarianism's practical recommendations. Even if you think the theory is technically false, you may nonetheless have good grounds to largely agree with its...

This chapter presents a toolkit of general strategies for responding to objections to utilitarianism, before introducing the most influential specific objections to the theory. The original text contained 7 footnotes which were omitted from this narration. --- First published: January 29th, 2023 Source: https://utilitarianism.net/objections-to-utilitarianism --- Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO .

Many find it objectionable that utilitarianism seemingly licenses outrageous rights violations in certain hypothetical scenarios, killing innocent people for the greater good. This article explores how utilitarians might best respond. The original text contained 4 footnotes which were omitted from this narration. --- First published: January 29th, 2023 Source: https://utilitarianism.net/objections...

Critics often allege that utilitarianism objectionably instrumentalizes people—treating us as mere means to the greater good, rather than properly valuing individuals as ends in themselves. In this article, we assess whether this is a fair objection. The original text contained 8 footnotes which were omitted from this narration. --- First published: January 29th, 2023 Source: https://utilitarianis...

The idea that utilitarianism neglects the 'separateness of persons' has proven to be a widely influential objection. But it is one that is difficult to pin down. This article explores three candidate interpretations of the objection, and how utilitarians can respond to each. The original text contained 21 footnotes which were omitted from this narration. --- First published: January 29th, 2023 Sou...

In directing us to choose the impartially best outcome, even at significant cost to ourselves, utilitarianism can seem an incredibly demanding theory. This page explores whether this feature of utilitarianism is objectionable, and if so, how defenders of the view might best respond. The original text contained 5 footnotes which were omitted from this narration. --- First published: January 29th, 2...

Abstract moral theories threaten to alienate us from much that we hold dear. This article explores two possible defenses of utilitarianism against this charge. One recommends adopting motivations other than explicitly utilitarian ones. The second argues that suitably concrete concerns can be subsumed within broader utilitarian motivations. The original text contained 11 footnotes which were omitte...

Relationships like parenthood or guardianship seemingly give rise to special obligations to protect those who fall under our care (where these obligations are more stringent than our general duties of beneficence towards strangers). This article explores the extent to which impartial utilitarianism can accommodate intuitions and normative practices of partiality. The original text contained 10 foo...

Is utilitarianism undermined by our inability to predict the long-term consequences of our actions? This article explores whether utilitarians can still be guided by near-term expected value even when this is small in comparison to the potential value or disvalue of the unknown long-term consequences. The original text contained 18 footnotes which were omitted from this narration. --- First publis...

Utilitarianism is concerned with the overall well-being of individuals in the population, but many object that justice requires an additional concern for how this well-being is distributed across individuals. This article examines this objection, and how utilitarians might best respond. The original text contained 6 footnotes which were omitted from this narration. --- First published: January 29t...

Some argue that utilitarianism is self-effacing, or recommends against its own acceptance, due to the risk that mistaken appeals to the 'greater good' may actually result in horrifically harmful actions being done. This article explores how best to guard against such risks, and questions whether it is an objection to a theory if it turns out to be self-effacing in this way. The original text conta...

“Create all the happiness you are able to create; remove all the misery you are able to remove. Every day will allow you, will invite you to add something to the pleasure of others, or to diminish something of their pains.” —Jeremy Bentham So far we have looked at utilitarianism from a theoretical viewpoint. But what does utilitarianism actually mean in practice? What concrete actions does it say...

Mò Dí (墨翟), better known as Mòzǐ or “Master Mò,” flourished c. 430 BCE in what is now Tengzhou, Shandong Province, China. Likely an artisan by craft, Mò Dí attracted many dedicated followers and founded the philosophical school of Mohism during China’s Warring States Period (475 - 221 BCE).Like other philosophers of his day, including the better-known Confucius, Mò Dí traveled from state to stat...

Susanna Newcome (1685-1763) was an eighteenth-century philosopher and theologian who lived and worked in England. Her most significant work, An Enquiry into the Evidence of the Christian Religion, contains an early formulation of utilitarian thought. In this short book, Newcome synthesizes contemporary developments in natural theology and moral psychology to offer a utilitarian account of the natu...

Jeremy Bentham was born in 1748 to a wealthy family. A child prodigy, his father sent him to study at Queen’s College, Oxford University, aged 12. Although he never practiced, Bentham trained as a lawyer and wrote extensively on law and legal reform. He died in 1832 at the age of 84 and requested his body and head to be preserved for scientific research. They are currently on display at University...

William Thompson (1775–1833) was a philosopher, political economist, and social reformer working during the early nineteenth century. He and his sometimes co-author Anna Doyle Wheeler made significant, though under-appreciated, contributions to the utilitarian, socialist, and feminist philosophical traditions.1 Life William Thompson was a landowner from Cork, Ireland with a reputation for eccentri...

John Stuart Mill was born in 1806, in London. He was the son of James Mill, a friend of Jeremy Bentham’s who shared many of his principles. James intended that his son carry on the radical utilitarian empiricist tradition, and this was reflected in his upbringing: John learned Greek and arithmetic at 3, and helped to edit his father’s book (the History of India) at 11. Mill was influenced by the t...

Harriet Taylor Mill (née Hardy) was born in 1807 in Walworth, South London, as the daughter of a midwife. She was educated at home and became interested in poetry and writing at a young age. She married John Taylor, a pharmacist, aged 18. Even before she met John Stuart Mill, she was writing extensively on topics such as women’s rights (particularly in marriage, domestic violence and education), p...