How Does Society Achieve
Happiness?
• If you had all power over the laws of a society,
which three laws would you enact to create a
place of happiness?
Hedonism - Quote 1
• “Nature has placed mankind under the
governance of two sovereign masters, pain
and pleasure.”
Hedonism Quote 2
• Now, pleasure is in itself a good; nay, even
setting aside immunity from pain, the only
good: pain is in itself an evil; and, indeed,
without exception, the only evil; or else the
words good and evil have no meaning. And
this is alike true of every sort of pain, and of
every sort of pleasure.
– Bentham, Principles of Morals and Legislation
Hedonism Quote 3
• Every pleasure then because of its natural
kinship to us is good, ... even as every pain
also is an evil... ...we maintain that pleasure is
the end.
– Epicurus, Letter to Menoeceus
Hedonism
• Hedonism is a school of thought that
argues that pleasure is the only intrinsic
good In very simple terms, a hedonist
strives to maximize net pleasure (pleasure
minus pain).
Utilitarianism
Seek the greatest happiness for the
greatest number
Bomb Threat
• Is it permissible to
torture the terrorist for
the information? Why or
why not?
Basic Principles
• Utilitarianism was first formulated by
Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832).
• "The highest principle of morality is to
maximize happiness, the overall
balance of pleasure over pain ... the
right thing to do is whatever will
maximize utility (whatever produces
pleasure or happiness, and whatever
prevents pain or suffering)"
• We all like pleasure and we all dislike
pain. This is the basis of utilitarianism.
Numbers Game
• Bentham argued that in all decisions, the
positive outcomes (that maximize happiness)
should be weighed against the negative
outcomes (that prevent or take away
happiness). The right decision is the one that
brings the most happiness.
Case Study
• The Mignonette, a small ship, sinks in a
storm. Four English sailors are stranded at
sea in a lifeboat. For three days, they eat
small rations. On day four, they catch a
turtle, which lasts a few days. Then they
eat nothing for eight days. One of the men,
actually a cabin boy, drank seawater
against the advice of the others, and is
slowly dying in the corner of the boat.
Nineteen days after the Mignonette sunk,
the captain suggests that one person
should die so that the others live.
Do you agree?
• Pros (to killing the cabin
boy)
• Cons (to killing the cabin
boy)
Utilitarianism says…
• "the morality of an action depends solely on
the consequences it brings about; the right
thing to do is whatever will produce the best
state of affairs, all things considered.”
But…
• What about a sense of wrong?
• This pro/con argument suggests that "morality
consists in weighing costs and benefits"
• "Consequences are not all we should care
about...certain duties and rights should
command our respect, for reasons
independent of the social consequences."
Objections to Utilitarianism
1. Individual Rights
• fails to respect each person's rights by paying
attention only to the larger group's happiness.
Objections to Utilitarianism
2. A Common Currency of Value
• Not all values can be captured by a common
currency of value.
• For instance, can you calculate the cost of
human life?
Bomb Threat
• What if we changed the
scenario from the
terrorist to the terrorist's
innocent daughter who
has no knowledge of her
father's acts. Would it
still be okay? Is it really
just about numbers?