PHLA11H3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Felicific Calculus, Consequentialism, Unit
Document Summary
Week 2 lecture #4: january 14, 2016. Today: recap: what is utilitarianism, three objections to utilitarianism and mill"s replies. An act is right if and only if it produces the best overall consequences out of all the acts available to the agent: hedonism: The only things good in themselves are pleasure and freedom from pain. The total amount of pleasure produced (sum of hedons) the total amount of pain produced (sum of dolors) An act is right if and only if it maximizes utility. I. e. if and only if there is no alternative act available to the agent that has greater utility. You come across a child drowning in a shallow pond. If you save him you will ruin your new pants and be late to pick up your own kids from school. Mill considers and replies to three objections. Such a theory of life excites in many minds [ ] inveterate dislike.
