Consequentialist Ethical Theories

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Consequentialist Ethical Theories

• Egoism the good is whatever promotes my
  long-term interests
• Hedonism the good is pleasure
• Pursue pleasures not mixed with pain (beauty,
  prudence, honor, justice, courage, knowledge)
  satisfy natural desires (food, sleep), avoid vain
  desires (fame, fashion)
• Self-realization develop harmoniously all our
  capacities (Plato, Aristotle, Bradley)

Epicurus 341-270 BCE
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Objections to Egoism

• Egoism cannot resolve conflicts of interest
  (which moral theories should do)
• Egoism allows for no moral point of view of an
  ideal, impartial, informed observer who
  identifies with those in the situation
• Reply no one is completely impartial, nor should
  moral decisions be dispassionate

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Utilitarianism we ought to promote the greatest
amount of happiness for the greatest number
J. Bentham (1748-1843)
J. S. Mill (1808-73)

• Bentham the hedonic calculus is based on the
  intensity, duration, certainty, immediacy,
  fecundity, purity, number of people affected
• J. S. Mill the quality of pleasures needs to be
  considered, determined by competent judges
• Objections this is elitist why not use the
  criterion for evaluating pleasures to judge
  morality itself?

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Variations of Utilitarianism

• Act utilitarianism we are obligated to do the
  specific act that produces the greatest amount of
  happiness (regardless of rules or justice)
• Objections consequence calculation is
  difficult
• this implies that the end justifies the means
• Rule utilitarianism we should follow moral rules
  that, when acted upon, generally produce the
  greatest amount of happiness
• Objections what about when rules conflict?
• in some cases, why not exceptions?
• Reply then why have any theory at all?