Utilitarianism is a school of thought developed by Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832). Bentham described his philosophy as the "greatest happiness principle". It was later elaborated by John Stuart Mill in a book called Utilitarianism (1863).
Utilitarians define moral obligation as being "the greatest happiness for the greatest number", which means that all our actions should take into acccount the equation between the happiness created for ourself as well as for others in relation to the pain generated by that same action. Bentham elaborated a "hedonic calculus" to establish the happiness value of each action:
- Intensity: How strong is the pleasure?
- Duration: How long will the pleasure last?
- Certainty or uncertainty: How likely or unlikely is it that the pleasure will occur?
- Propinquity or remoteness: How soon will the pleasure occur?
- Fecundity: The probability that the action will be followed by sensations of the same kind.
- Purity: The probability that it will not be followed by sensations of the opposite kind.
- Extent: How many people will be affected?
Keeping these elements in mind, Mill believes that all pleasures are not created equal. Physical pleasures, for instance, rank lower than intellectual or even emotional pleasures, maybe because of their 'duration', 'purity' and 'extent' aspects.
Many governments have used these ethical principle to elaborate laws and policies, especially at the end of the 19th Century.
What I find interesting in this philosophy is that we are often confronted with dilemmas, choices when it comes to our lives. The 'hedonic calculus' can definitely serve as a tool to evaluate decisions, not only in terms of personal, immediate gratification, but also, in terms of a wider definition happiness that includes the collective happiness generated by every single one of our actions.
"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."
John Stuart Mill
If you like this post, pass it along. To receive posts as they're being published, you can either send me an e-mail at alina500daystohappiness@hotmail.com or join the facebook group: 500daystohappiness.
1 comment:
You should read John Stuart Mill's "Autobiography of John Stuart Mill" to see how his ideas of happiness evolved in his later days. Ciao
Post a Comment