Utilitarianism and the Hedonic Calculus

Utilitarianism

In this lecture, Professor Hilary Greaves (University of Oxford) discusses utilitarianism. In the first lecture, we introduce utilitarianism and Jeremy Bentham’s hedonic calculus. In the second lecture, we discuss the hedonistic theory of well-being. In the third lecture, we look at alternative theories of well-being, before evaluating the utilitarian criterion for right action in the fourth lecture. In the fifth lecture we consider some constraints on consequentialism. In the sixth and final lecture, we compare and contract act utilitarianism with rule utilitarianism.

Utilitarianism and the Hedonic Calculus

In this lecture, we examine utilitarianism, focusing on: (i) its foundational principle that the right action is the one which maximises happiness and minimises unhappiness across society; (ii) its opposition to minimalist ethics that dismiss pleasure as valuable, emphasising instead that pleasure is inherently good as long as it does not lead to future harm; (iii) its contrast with elitist moral views, advocating that everyone’s interests matter equally and promoting more egalitarian approaches to wealth distribution; (iv) its opposition to disgust-based ethics, asserting that actions should not be judged solely on emotional responses like disgust, but on whether they cause harm or benefit; (v) Jeremy Bentham’s utilitarian calculus, where actions are evaluated based on factors such as intensity, duration, extent, and uncertainty; (vi) the significance of fecundity and purity in calculating the long-term effects of actions, distinguishing between immediate pleasures or pains and their subsequent consequences; (vii) the use of the hedonic calculus to assign a score to actions by considering their effects on all individuals involved, summing the total pleasure and pain they cause; (viii) the recognition that while the hedonic calculus may not be practical for daily decisions, it sets a standard for evaluating actions and should guide decision-making in the background.