Philosophy 1020 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Consequentialism, Logical Truth
Document Summary
The goodness and badness, rightness or wrongness of an action (policy, law, etc. ) is determined by the goodness or badness (etc. ) of its consequences. Is a species of consequentialism; it adds a measure of goodness and badness, rightness and wrongness. Consequentialism plus a measure of goodness and badness, rightness and wrongness. An action may be said to be comfortable to the principle of utility when the tendency it has to augment the happiness of the community is greater than any it has to diminish it" ch 1, para 6. The problems is the tyranny of the majority", where the majority determines the utility of the action, leaving pockets minorities to be unrepresented. Intentions do, however, matter in their service of outcomes. According to bentham, utility applies for the benefit of the community, not the individual, family, or friends. Bentham"s justifications or proofs of the principles of utility: