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Utililitarianism
John Stuart Mill
1806-1873
John Stuart Mill
1806-1873

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Rejected
Christianity
Believed that only
consequences
matter in making
moral judgments
Utilitarianism
A consequentialist moral philosophyone that judges actions in terms of
the goodness or badness of their
results.
 Like Aristotle and Kant, Mill based
his moral theory on reasoning and
observation alone, not divine
revelation.

Basic Insights of
Utilitarianism
The purpose of morality is to make
the world a better place.
 Morality is about producing good
consequences, not having good
intentions
 We should do whatever will bring
the most benefit (i.e., intrinsic
value) to all of humanity.

The Principle of Utility

The right choice is the one that
results in the greatest happiness for
the greatest number of people.


(9/11 plane and the life boat)
Need to be like a
disinterested spectator.
The good of the many outweighs the
good of the few, but remember, the
few may include you.
 He or she must selflessly give equal
consideration to all involved,
including him or herself.
 One might be called to give up ones
own life for the good of the whole.

Utilitarian Philosophy

Making moral decisions is a mathematical
process of weighing probable positive and
negative consequences.

The end justifies the means

No act is evil if the good that results is
sufficiently greater.
Utilitarianism vs. Kant
Desert
Island
Example
Utilitarianism and
Christianity
 Situational
ethics is defined
as choosing the most loving
response to each individual
situation by evaluating the
consequences.
Utilitarianism assumes

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We have no bias or blind spots
We are not affected by any negative
cultural values
We never rationalize our actions to be
able to do what we want
We have nothing left to learn
We can see all of the short term and long
term effects of our actions on ourselves
and society.
This assumes:
That we are omniscient or all
knowing!!!!
 Genesis 3:5 “For God knows that when
you eat it your eyes will be opened and
you will be like God, knowing for yourself
what is good and evil.”
 Original sin: disobedience, due to pride,
that results in self-righteousness.

John Paul II in
Veritatis Splendor
 Circumstances
or intentions
can never transform an act
that is intrinsically evil by
virtue of its object into an
act that is good or defensible
as a choice.
What does scripture say?
 There
are those who
say: And why not do
evil that good may
come? Their
condemnation is just.
(Rom 3:8)
Catholic Catechism 1756:

It is therefore an error to judge the morality of
human acts by considering only the intention
that inspires them or the circumstances
(environment, social pressure, duress or
emergency, etc.) which supply their context.
There are acts which, in and of themselves,
independently of circumstances and intentions,
are always gravely illicit by reason of their
object; such as blasphemy and perjury, murder
and adultery. One may not do evil so that
good may result from it.