Utilitarianism is a consequentialist philosophical theory that posits that the best action is the one that maximizes overall happiness or utility. This approach was primarily developed in the 18th and 19th centuries by philosophers such as Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill. Here are some key concepts and principles of utilitarianism:
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Greatest Happiness Principle: The right action is the one that produces the greatest good for the greatest number of people. Happiness is often defined in terms of pleasure or the absence of pain.
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Utility: Utility refers to the overall happiness or benefit derived from an action. Actions are evaluated based on their consequences.
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Impartiality: Utilitarianism requires that the welfare of all individuals is considered equally when evaluating the consequences of an action.
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Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches: Bentham focused more on quantifying happiness through a hedonistic calculus, while Mill emphasized qualitative differences in pleasures, arguing that higher pleasures (e.g., intellectual pursuits) are more valuable than lower pleasures (e.g., mere physical pleasures).
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Act vs. Rule Utilitarianism: Act utilitarianism assesses each individual action based on whether it maximizes utility, while rule utilitarianism considers whether an action conforms to a set of rules that lead to the greatest utility.
Example of Utilitarianism in Practice
A widely cited example that demonstrates utilitarian principles is the "Trolley Problem." In this thought experiment, a person must decide whether to pull a lever to divert a runaway trolley onto a track where it will kill one person instead of allowing it to continue on its current path, where it would kill five people.
Analysis:
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Act Utilitarianism View: A utilitarian might conclude that pulling the lever is the right action because it minimizes the loss of life—saving five people at the expense of one. The total happiness (or utility) gained by saving more lives outweighs the sorrow of the one person’s death.
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Rule Utilitarianism View: On the other hand, a rule utilitarian might argue against the action by pointing out that if everyone acted on the principle that it's acceptable to kill one to save many, this could lead to a breakdown of trust in society and overall long-term negative consequences.
Conclusion
In this context, the Trolley Problem best fits the philosophical idea of utilitarianism as it directly challenges individuals to evaluate actions based on their consequences for overall happiness. It illustrates the decision-making process involved in utilitarian ethics, weighing the outcomes of actions and their impact on collective well-being.