Political Science 1020E Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Experience Machine, Jeremy Bentham, Noble Eightfold Path
18 Jan 2017
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A: the obligation to obey the law because it is the law. Definition is known to be: right action that maximizes happiness for the number of people. The right action is the one that maximizes utility. Obey the law if and only if doing so will produce greater happiness than disobeying. Requirement of maximization: duty to produce as much good as possible. We value impartial concern, especially as a public value. Constant pleasure as a plugin for the rest of your life. Obey the law if and only if doing so will produce greater happiness then disobeying (otherwise disobey the law) Don"t justify parti(cid:272)ular a(cid:272)tions (cid:271)y appeal to utility-promotion. Well being is maximized by each of us obeying the laws. Direct utilitarianism: yes (world poverty: keep giving till it hurts) Not necessarily (secure property rights can contribute to greatest happiness) Can require injustice (torture, slavery, convictism of the innocent) It fair to explain why actions are morally right or wrong.
