Utilitarianism

Utilitarianism

The Ethical Theory of "Utilitarianism" is the most reasonable approach to morality. Utilitarianism does not rely on unclear beliefs or abstract principles; it is instead a fairly simple theory to understand. It contains ideas we are acquainted with, like the idea that something that makes us happy is better than something which does not. Nearly all of us would agree that murder, lying, rape and theft are bad, and that loyalty, generosity and truthfulness are good. Thus, things we agree to be good tend to make people happy and things we agree to be bad make people unhappy.

The first traces of Utilitarianism were initially seen in the late 1780's in William Paley's Principles of Moral and Political Philosophy (1785) and in the British jurist and philosopher Jeremy Bentham's Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation (1789). The Principle was later expanded by John Stuart Mill in his Utilitarianism (1863). Utilitarianism uses the notion of the "Greatest Happiness Principle" to differentiate between right and wrong. Mill explains this by stating that "There is only one principle of morality, the principle of utility, that actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happinessÐ'... by happiness is intended pleasure, and the absence of pain; by unhappiness, pain and the privation of pleasure" (Utilitarianism, Everyman ed., p.2). "The happiness which forms the Utilitarian standard of what is right in conduct, is not the agent's own happiness," writes Mill, "but that of all concerned. As between his own happiness and that of others, utilitarians require him to be as strictly impartial as a disinterested and benevolent spectator." John Stuart Mill, Utilitarianism (1861).

Utilitarianism requires us to behave morally by following the "Greatest Happiness Principle" good actions are those who lead to more happiness and bad actions are those who result in little happiness. This principle will lead us into making correct choices by generally decreasing suffering and increasing happiness. Moral determinations are made by using "Utilitarian Calculus." This weighs the positive and negative consequences of an action. If the act generates more good than bad for all affected by the act, then the act is good; if not the act is bad. Utilitarianism motivates the agent to pursue happiness by seeking a "common good" for all. The agent would have a higher chance at being in the "happy" majority, than in the "unhappy" minority.

Utilitarianism of course is not perfect. It has its faults like every other "ethical theory." It is often frowned upon because it is said to be too demanding. Under utilitarianism the right thing must always be done, there are no distinctions between superogatory acts and regular actions. Some complain that impartiality is another draw back to Utilitarianism. This means that not one person is more special than the