Philosophy 2700F/G Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Normative Ethics, Fallacy, Henry Sidgwick
17 May 2018
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Week 5: February 6th, Tuesday
Three possible options with respect to the value of pleasure:
1. Remain skeptical
2. Accept hedonism
3. Adopt common-sense morality (pluralism in addition to pleasure)
So far we have been concerned with the first question of normative ethics: what is good and bad? These
are things to think about in the background, as we move on to the second question of normative ethics:
what is the right thing (or the wrong thing) we ought to do (and not do)? Principle of Utilitarianism
Atios ae ight i popotio as the ted to poote happiess, og as the ted to podue the
reverse of happiness. By happiness is intended pleasure, and the absence of pain; by unhappiness, pain,
and the piatio of pleasue Ch II,
Utilitarianism claims that the right action is that which produces at least as much net happiness as any
other action the agent could have performed in her situation
- Utilitaiais aot e poe i the odia ad popula eaig of the te Ch I,
- Questios of ultiate eds ae ot aeale to diet poof Ch I,
- That is, utilitarianism cannot be derived or inferred from more basic moral premises or truths
- This follows from the fact that for Mill, utilitarianism is the most basic moral truth or
requirement (i.e. foundation)
So if you are trying to prove it, it is different from how you would normally prove other propositions.
This is because Utilitarianism is the most basic, first principle (unlike the other propositions which rely
on foundational facts)
Thee is a lage eaig of poof. Utilitaiais a e poe i this sese:
Cosideatios a e peseted apale of deteiig the itellet eithe to gie o ithhold its
assent to the doctrine; ad this is euialet to poof Ch I,
- These cannot be arbitrary considerations
- They have to be rational and sophisticated enough, but cannot have deductive force (which
would suggest that it is not the first principle)
- What sort of considerations can be given for accepting or rejecting the utilitarian formula?
o As noted previously, Mill is an empiricist – therefore, the considerations to which he
appeals in his proof of utilitarianism, are empirical in nature
o He also completely disregards and disagrees ith Noziks Itelletual Seeigs
o He points to empirical facts to give us reasons to accept utilitarianism
Mill, not only want to prove that happiness is the only thing that matters, but also that we should all
pursue the general happiness, which is happiness for all creatures capable of it. There are 3 things Mill is
trying to prove (Ch IV, 3): Happiness is desirable for its own sake; Happiness is the only thing that
matters; AND It is the general happiness, not individual happiness, that is of value
Fist pat of Mills aguet: Happiess is desiale ad good so happiess is o-instrumental)
- P1: The only consideration that establishes that something is visible is that people actually see it
- P2: The only consideration that establishes that something is audible is that people actually hear it
- P3: The only consideration that establishes that something is desirable for its own sake is that
people actually do desire it.
- P4: People actually do desire their own happiness
- Conclusion: Therefore happiness is desirable for its own sake
That people desire something is the only evidence that it is in fact desirable for its own sake. As a matter
of fat, eah peso, so fa as he eliees it to e attaiale, desies his o happiess Ch IV,
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Document Summary
Three possible options with respect to the value of pleasure: remain skeptical, accept hedonism, adopt common-sense morality (pluralism in addition to pleasure) Principle of utilitarianism (cid:858)a(cid:272)tio(cid:374)s a(cid:396)e (cid:396)ight i(cid:374) p(cid:396)opo(cid:396)tio(cid:374) as the(cid:455) te(cid:374)d to p(cid:396)o(cid:373)ote happi(cid:374)ess, (cid:449)(cid:396)o(cid:374)g as the(cid:455) te(cid:374)d to p(cid:396)odu(cid:272)e the reverse of happiness. By happiness is intended pleasure, and the absence of pain; by unhappiness, pain, and the p(cid:396)i(cid:448)atio(cid:374) of pleasu(cid:396)e(cid:859) (cid:894)ch ii, (cid:1006)(cid:895) Utilitarianism claims that the right action is that which produces at least as much net happiness as any other action the agent could have performed in her situation. Utilita(cid:396)ia(cid:374)is(cid:373) (cid:272)a(cid:374)(cid:374)ot (cid:271)e p(cid:396)o(cid:448)e(cid:374) i(cid:374) the (cid:858)o(cid:396)di(cid:374)a(cid:396)(cid:455) a(cid:374)d popula(cid:396) (cid:373)ea(cid:374)i(cid:374)g of the te(cid:396)(cid:373)(cid:859) (cid:894)ch i, (cid:1009)(cid:895) Questio(cid:374)s of ulti(cid:373)ate e(cid:374)ds a(cid:396)e (cid:858)(cid:374)ot a(cid:373)e(cid:374)a(cid:271)le to di(cid:396)e(cid:272)t p(cid:396)oof(cid:859) (cid:894)ch i, (cid:1009)(cid:895) That is, utilitarianism cannot be derived or inferred from more basic moral premises or truths. This follows from the fact that for mill, utilitarianism is the most basic moral truth or requirement (i. e. foundation)
