Smart went on to give an example of how a class of actions could be justified on the grounds of extreme utilitarianism. Smart published in 1961, together with a critique of it by bernard williams. Another common argument against utilitarianism is that it is seemingly impractical as a governing philosophy for the general body of mankind. The distinction between these two types of ethical theory is explained in his essay extreme and restricted utilitarianism.
Utilitarianism7 as well as truth and falsehood, are questions of observation and experience. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. But to refuse to break such a rule even when it would be beneficial to do so seems irrational. Brandt in his recent book calls act utilitarianism and which i, in an earlier article, called, less happily, extreme utilitarianism. Utilitarianism is an idea that was introduced in the study by jeremy bentham. Utilitarianism 7 as well as truth and falsehood, are questions of observation and experience. This is one of the better books on the topic, for utilitarianism, or ethics, or philosophy in general. It offers a simplicity that many other philosophical approaches lack and in particular cuts through the mish mash of moral rules favoured by deontological thinkers. Doctrine worthy of swine too high for humanity no time to calculate. That is a book which contains an admirably clear and fair discussion of many ethical principles and methods.
Two concepts of rule utilitarianism oxford scholarship. Williams arguments against utilitarianism are set out in h is utilitarianism. But both hold equally that morality must be deduced from principles. He supposed that a man was drowning in a river near berchtesgaden in 1938 and he had a high resemblance of the villainous dictator adolf hitler, the rescuer, with no time to spare, trusted his instincts and saved him. May 17, 2018 argumentative essay against utilitarianism.
Smarts discussion combines an overview of moral theory and a defense of act utilitarianism. Smart gave two arguments against rule utilitarianism. Pdf the standard objection to the utilitarian vision of morality is that utilitarian socalled. Smart does the best he can in the for essay in this brief volume, but the odds are stacked against him. Smarts essay is a slightly revised version of his earlier essay, an outline of utilitarian ethics. Utilitarianism john stuart mill mcmaster faculty of social. The selection was divided into 5 parts, excluding the introduction. According to the first, rule utilitarianism collapses into act utilitarianism because there is no adequate criterion on what can count as a rule. Moore 39 i propose, then, to begin by an examination of mills utilitarianism. Smart, an outline of a system of utilitarian ethics, in utilitarianism. The best sustained exposition of act utilitarianism is, i think, that in sidgwicks methods of ethics,5 but sidgwick stated it within the. Except on page14, popular is used in this work only to mean of the people, with no implication about being liked. Two essays on utilitarianism, written from opposite points of view, by j. Traces of utilitarian thought can be found in the works of plato and aristotle, but not until the eighteenth century did utilitarianism truly begin to emerge as a welldefined and.
Act utilitarianism and rule utilitarianism rule utilitarianism is the view that the rightness or wrongness of an action depends on the goodness and badness of the consequences of a rule that everyone should perform the action in like circumstances. Bernard williams,a critique of utilitarianism, in jjc smart and bernard williams, utilitarianism. Utilitarianism, act and rule internet encyclopedia of. Smart claims that restricted utilitarianism amount t. Moreover, since both egoism and utilitarianism supply ultimate ends. Moore produced, as a result of philosophical reflection, systems of normative ethics. Extreme utilitarians claim that we should always blame wrongdoers while restricted utilitarians do not. Oct 07, 2014 smart went on to give an example of how a class of actions could be justified on the grounds of extreme utilitarianism. Although different varieties of utilitarianism admit different characterizations, the basic idea behind all of them is to in some sense maximize utility, which is often defined in terms of wellbeing or related concepts. Cambridge core political philosophy utilitarianism by j. To do so, smart claimed, was to succumb to superstitious ruleworship. Smart and bernard williams excerpt more information. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read utilitarianism. In this book smart argues for utilitarianism and williams against it.
This essay argues that as long as one assumes that morality is an expression of a distinctive moral point of view. In the first part of the book, professor smart advocates a modern and. For and against 1973, but are also scattered through others of his works. Phil 103 chapter 2 consequentialism introduction and two. Smart and bernard williams frontmatter more information. For and against in which both authors take opposing sides with smart arguing for and williams against. The problem is that human beings are extremely variable. Utilitarianism, many such critics favor another version of this theory called rule utilitarianism.
If there is a problem with consequentialism, it af. In his research he claims that in every action there should be a part where it conforms to and with the principle of utility. Rule utilitarianism is the variation that says that we must judge the worth of action by how well it conforms to moral rules that have been deemed good according to the utilitarian standard. Throughout his career, jj smart was a staunch defender of extreme utilitarianism, to which he gives two main points against its rule restricted opponent. In the first part of the book professor smart advocates a modern and sophisticated version of classical utilitarianism.
Actutilitarianism and ruleutilitarianism ruleutilitarianism is the view that the rightness or wrongness of an action depends on the goodness and badness of the consequences of a rule that everyone should perform the action in like circumstances. Utilitarianism, for and against in searchworks catalog. Jan 01, 1973 this is one of the better books on the topic, for utilitarianism, or ethics, or philosophy in general. Extreme utilitarians are concerned with consequences while restricted utilitarians are not. This is because utilitarianism is chiefly concerned with happiness, or pleasure. The book begins with a definition and defense of utilitarianism by j. Mill exposes not a few simple mistakes which are very likely to. An argument against utilitarianism rambling writings. In one section of williams essay, he gives two dilemmas, states what a utilitarian would decide, questions the decision and then argues against it. He is committed to the principle of utility to the act which does more good, gives greater benefit, or which satisfies more preferences desires. According to smart, the main difference between extreme act and. Of recent years normative ethics has become distinguished from metaethics. Dryer, university of toronto utilitarianism, for and against contains in a single volume a slightly revised version of an outline of a system of utilitarian ethics which j.
If rule utilitarianism collapses into act utilitarianism, then, by parity of reasoning, rule egoism collapses into act egoism. Start studying phil 103 chapter 2 consequentialism introduction and two versions of utilitarianism,j. Utilitarianism can be broken down into two factions. Arguments against utilitarianism, origin and criticism essay. Smart argued against the idea that utilitarians could avoid counterintuitive moral judgments by adopting an indirect version of their theory such as rule utilitarianism. He explains that his belief is in actutilitarianism which posits that the rightness or wrongness of an action depends only on the total goodness or badness of its consequences, i. In the first part of the book, professor smart advocates a modern and sophisticated version of classical utilitarianism. Restricted utilitarians hold that conformity to rules determines right action while extreme utilitarians do not. This title consists of two essays on utilitarianism, written from opposite points of view, by j. Lec 3 smart and rawls phl 275 introduction to ethics m2.
Utilitarianism is a family of consequentialist ethical theories that promotes actions that maximize happiness and wellbeing for the majority of a population. Smart and bernard williams each take half the book to explain utilitarianism as they understand it, and to argue pro smart and con williams. Bernard williams this title consists of two essays on utilitarianism, written from opposite points of view, by j. Williams arguments against utilitarianism are set out in his. Pdf this paper argues that people from all walks of life are required to make. Smart and bernard williams, utilitarianism, for and against toronto. This selection is taken from his criticism of utilitarianism in utilitarianism. An outline of a system of utilitarian ethics utilitarianism.
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