PHIL 230 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: John Stuart Mill, James Mill, Act Utilitarianism
10 Mar 2016
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Recall: distinction between deontic (rightness/duty) and evaluative concepts (goodness) Consequentialism: view that deontic status of action (right/wrong/forbidden) is wholly determined by the extent to which that action promotes the good (vthe consequence) The good is prior to the right ; state of world the action brings: all that matters in morality. Classical utilitarianism: type of consequentialism combined with value theory. Happiness: only thing valuable for its own sake; duty to maximize happiness. Maximize pleasure, minimize pain; hedonistic view of happiness. Aristotle similarity: anything good is only to the extent that it promotes happiness. John stuart mill: born to james mill (philosopher) Bentham: founder of modern utilitarianism morality: ^happiness to ^number . Chapter 1: general remarks: make universal criterion of right/wrong to apply to actions. Top-down concept: fundamental principle is applied for an ultimate end. Agenda: clarify principle of utility, provide proof as it is susceptible of. Principle of utility: right thing to do is always what maximizes happiness.
