Outline Chapter 7 pleasure principle (1789).

Here, there is a
recognition that the primary motivation of
Utilitarianism human behavior is the desire for pleasure
Objective and the avoidance of pain. To define
happiness as pleasure and to think that it is
1. Understand and define utilitarianism; the end of man is Hedonism. This is
summarized in the moral maxim-the
2. Appreciate the value of utilitarianism;
greatest happiness principle- "The greatest
3. Assess when to use it; and amount of happiness for the greatest
number" (1776). Therefore, a moral decision
4. Apply utilitarianism. will be based on the result of the act. If the
Origins and Nature of the Theory act results in the happiness of more people,
when compared to the suffering of the few,
According to the English folklore, there was then the act is considered morally good.
an outlaw named Robin Hood of Loxley. The intention does not play a role here.
The story of Robin Hood romanticizes the
idea of an outlaw who steals not for himself If happiness is the measurement, how is it
but for others. And he usually steals from defined then? Bentham believed that
the rich people who have been abusive of happiness is pleasure (1776). All kinds of
the poor people. This, in effect makes him a pleasure is acceptable. Following also the
hero. "one person, one vote policy," each person
must make the decision for himself. To, help
Do you think that Robin Hood is wrong in him decide and to have a scientific basis for
stealing from other people? Or you think it's one's moral action based on utilitarianism,
ok since he is taking it from bad people he devised a hedonistic calculus with seven
anyway? If one agrees or even applauds of variables as the factors to be considered.
Robin Hood's acts, then there is a strong His calculus is dependent largely on the
chance that one is a Utilitarian. A utilitarian probability of the result.
believes that an action is morally right if it
maximizes overall well-being and 1. Intensity (How strong is the pleasure?)
happiness. The act of stealing has resulted 2. Duration (How long does the pleasure
in the happiness of more people, namely last?)
the poor people as opposed
3. Certainty (How is one assured of the
Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832, England) The pleasure?)
said truth is that it is the greatest happiness
of the Greatest number that is the measure 4. Proximity (How soon will pleasure be
of right and wrong (1789) Bentham studied experienced?)
law and wrote on ethics, politics economics
5. Fecundity (How many times will pleasure
and the law. He is known as the founder of
be repeated?)
Utilitarianism.
6. Purity (Will there be pain?)
Utilitarianism was first brought to the center
by Jeremy Bentham, who applied his 7. Extent (How many people will experience
empirical beliefs to moral and political the pleasure?) (1970, pp 38-40)
theories. Empiricism is grounded on the
practical idea of David Hume who takes Considered as a genius, Mill was tutored by
knowledge as a set of reasonable beliefs James Mill, his economist father. His
that have their foundation on experience autobiography shows that he has been
(Palmer, 1994). Taking his cue from this reading history books at the age of six, can
definition, Bentham concluded that for speak English and Greek at seven, a
human beings-there is the primacy of logician at 12 and Economist at 16. It's no
wonder then that he had a nervous always be at the cost of sacrificing
breakdown at 20. He later married a widow something. In the case of Figure 7, the cost
and was elected to the House of Commons. of real prosperity might be an environmental
He ran for reelection, but was lost. deterioration. How will utilitarianism be
(Autobiography, I: 139) For him, it is not applied in business? Owing to the one man,
quantity that should be measured but the one vote policy as enshrined in Mill's and
quality of the pleasure felt. According to Bentham's Utilitarianism, democracy would
him: be promoted. This democracy will
encourage individual liberty which will, in
"It is better to be a human being dissatisfied turn, maximize happiness. They can have
than a pig satisfied; better to be Socrates the liberty of choosing what to do with their
dissatisfied than a fool satisfied. And if the business and the only way that the
fool, or the pig, is of a different opinion, it is government will step in, is when such liberty
only because they only know their own side causes the violation of another person's
of the question. (CW, X.21) be ranked rights and the protection of the state as a
according to how valuable they are (Mill, whole. This liberty is believed to help the
Figure 6. Pig Satisfied Source: Course business and the economy of the state. 10
Hero, 2018
Which do you prefer?
He believes that different forms of pleasure
should 1861). There are different kinds of It is easy to understand how this theory
pleasure, the higher and the lower forms of dominated contemporary economy. Using
pleasure. It does not bode well for the the greatest happiness principle, the
advancement of civilization if the hedonistic individual has the freedom to pursue what
calculus will be followed without considering makes him happy, and the assumption
the kinds of pleasure involved because would be that he would also be aware of
more people might pursue the lower forms what will work best for him in order to attain
of pleasure, more than the higher forms of that happiness.
pleasure.
This consciousness will serve as a guide to
The higher forms of pleasure are those that the businessman to make sure that integrity
will allow us to exercise human being's will be kept (with some exemptions). Which
higher faculties like for example, one will again, will serve the interest of the state.
choose to learn and be educated (uses Though Utilitarianism emphasize social
higher faculty) than to be ignorant and be a hedonism, by recognizing that the primary
fool. The pursuit of intellectual pleasures is motivation would still be self-interest.
deemed as better than the pursuit of
physical or bodily pleasures. But who Thus, in business it also means making
decides then? decision that will be beneficial to most, while
at the same time minimizing the cost (or
Utilitarianism in Business: Balancing sacrifice). Some debates consistently occur
Profit and Cost throughout history. Layoffs vs quality of
product? Jobs vs environment? Low salary
Let me explain to you based on my modest vs more jobs? Low cost quantity, vs high
and humblest understanding of cost quality?
Utilitarianism, by using an analogy of Ham
Sandwich and Egg Sandwich.
WHICH DO YOU PREFER? business world SUREZH RADI R. MAÑAOL
views Utilitarianism.
BSBA - FMA
This could very well sum up how The
measurement of what will be beneficial will