A simple calculation for right vs. wrong

Key Concepts:

• Utilitarianism: A moral theory that states the best action is the one that maximizes utility, usually defined as that which produces the greatest well-being of the greatest number of people.
• Hedonic Calculus: Jeremy Bentham's system for calculating the amount of pleasure or pain generated by an action.
• Intensity: The strength or force of the pleasure.
• Duration: How long the pleasure lasts.
• Proximity: How near or far the pleasure is in time or space.
• Fecundity: The probability that the pleasure will be followed by more pleasure.
• Purity: The probability that the pleasure will not be followed by pain.
• Extent: The number of people affected by the pleasure.
• Likelihood: The probability that the pleasure will occur.

Utilitarianism and Jeremy Bentham's Hedonic Calculus

The video addresses the difficulty in determining right and wrong, citing examples of disagreements ranging from personal disputes to wars. It introduces Jeremy Bentham, an 18th-century philosopher, as the originator of utilitarianism. Utilitarianism posits that a morally good action is one that produces the greatest good for the greatest number of people.

Bentham's Seven Criteria for Measuring Pleasure

Bentham proposed a method, the hedonic calculus, to evaluate actions based on seven criteria of pleasure:

1. Intensity: How strong is the pleasure?
2. Duration: How long does the pleasure last?
3. Proximity: How near or far is the pleasure?
4. Fecundity: Will the pleasure lead to more pleasure?
5. Purity: Will the pleasure be followed by pain?
6. Extent: How many people will experience the pleasure?
7. Likelihood: How probable is the pleasure?

Applying the Hedonic Calculus

The process involves calculating the amount of pleasure generated by an action using the seven criteria. The values are added together, and the action that produces the most pleasure is deemed the right one.

Criticisms and Limitations

The video acknowledges several problems with Bentham's approach. One significant issue is the subjective definition of pleasure. The video mentions John Stuart Mill, Bentham's successor, attempted to address this issue. Another major problem is the impracticality of performing such a calculation for every ethical decision, given the thousands of ethical decisions made daily.

Conclusion

While utilitarianism offers a seemingly simple framework for determining right and wrong, the video highlights the complexities and challenges associated with its practical application, particularly the subjective nature of pleasure and the time-consuming nature of the hedonic calculus.