Against Utility Theory

P1: An action is right if and only if it promotes the best consequence

P2: The best consequence is that which maximizes happiness

 

Hedonism is flawed (against P2)

A.     UT gets the happiness-to-situation relation backward

B.     Bad things happen ≠ unhappiness caused

C.     Things we value for their own sake

 

Consequentialism is flawed (against P1)

 

D.     Justice matters

E.      Rights matter

F.      The past matters

G.     Family & friends matter

 

 

Contrary to “common sense”

 

H.    Too demanding

I.   Too permissive

 

Utilitarian responses

 

J.       Unrealistic counterexamples

K.    Huh? Right and wrong in themselves?

L.       “Common sense” is ethically unreliable

 

Rule Utilitarianism rather than Classical Utilitarianism