4.3 Jeremy Bentham and Utilitarianism

The theory of UtilitarianismAn ethical theory that is focused on calculating the consequences of our actions to determine what we should or should not do. argues that the right thing to do is the action that produces the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people. You may have encountered the idea of Utilitarianism through television shows such as The Good Place or Bojack Horseman.

What Is Utilitarianism?

Utilitarianism is one of the most influential ethical theories of all time. It is an ethical theory that emphasises the importance of consequences rather than intentions or the type of person we are. This means that, unlike Aristotle’s Virtue EthicsAn ethical theory focused on the development of a virtuous character., it is a results-focused theory rather than a person-focused theory. It was introduced by an English philosopher called Jeremy Bentham (1748–1832) and added to by John Stuart Mill (1806-1873).

Jeremy Bentham came up with the idea of Utilitarianism as he wanted a way for people to practically determine the right course of action when faced with a moral decision. His methodHow a writer presents perspective or viewpoint through language/structure. to do this involved considering the potential consequences of each possible action.