Jeremy Betham's Ideas Of Utilitarianism

“Utilitarianism” focuses on the definition as well as the characteristics of utilitarianism. The text also draws attention to theories of morality. The author differentiates between the teleological/consequentialist theory, and the deontological theory. These theories place different levels of importance on the consequences of actions. Teleological theory emphasizes that the consequences of an action determine whether that act is right or wrong, whereas the deontological theory illuminates the role duty plays in actions, and contends that duty is unrelated to consequences (1). The widely accepted concept of utilitarianism asserts that the purpose of behavior is to bring the most happiness to the most people, and that this happiness should be

The author asserts that whereas both of their ideas were centered around achieving the greatest pleasure for the most people, to Betham greatest meant “most,” and to Mill greatest meant “best” (3, 6). Betham, the founder of utilitarianism, emphasized the quantity of happiness. Betham’s idea is that the right thing to do is consider all available options for actions, and calculate the pleasure over pain, considering other people and the way they will be affected more important than one’s own self. Betham believed there were seven ways to calculate this pleasure, and that there were four sanctions that should shape the way we behave; the sanctions were considered punishment for immoral actions (3-4). Mill’s version of utilitarianism emphasized the importance of quality over quantity. According to Mill, only pleasure, and freedom from pain are desirable results (4). Mill’s idea includes the Christian rule of loving your neighbor as yourself; this is noted as being the “spirit of the ethics of utility” (4). In the text, the author distinguishes between act-utilitarianism and rule-utilitarianism, and gives more ideas from Betham and Mill, as well as Kant and Martin Luther King, Jr. Act-utilitarianism questions what should be done to result in the greatest happiness for all people, and rule-utilitarianism questions what rule should be followed in order to achieve such great happiness (5). Immanuel Kant created the idea of the categorical imperative, which he considers the fundamental principle of morality; this idea focuses on whether or not actions can be universalized (11). According to the author, “the categorical imperative isn’t concerned with what you do, but how you do it, since if the how is right, the what will be right” (11). The author includes another scenario: the murderer at the door, in which a decision should be made whether to lie or not