Utilitarianism (Utility meaning usefulness) is a theory proposed by Jeremy Bentham and James Mill that means that all actions should be directed towards achieving the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people. It is a teleological argument as it is looks at the consequences of an action determining the rightness or wrongness of an action rather than the action itself. Jeremy Bentham (1748) believes in act utilitarianism, this is a theory that states that the act that produces the greatest good for the greatest number of people is the right one too choose therefore meaning it is quantitative as it is based on the quantity of happiness rather than quality. Benthams theory is based on 3 main things: 1. His view on what drove human beings and what goodness and badness was all about (he believes we are drive by pleasure opposed to pain – therefore he was a Hedonist), 2.
Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832), an English philosopher and the most prominent name in relation of the founding of utilitarianism, described utilitarianism as “the greatest happiness for the greatest felicity of people”. Bentham believed that morality did not depend on faithfulness to abstract views derived from the teachings of Jesus. He however looked upon morality as an effort to produce as much happiness as possible in the world. Moreover utilitarianism is the ethical theory embracing that the morally right course of action is the action which results in the most happiness and maximizes the overall good in the world. This indicates that utilitarianism is a form of consequentialism as what is viewed to a morally correct action is based upon the actions outcome.
This provided the basis of Utilitarian ethics. Utilitarianism also varies from other ethical theories that make the rightness or wrongness of an act reliant on the purpose of the performer. This means that it is possible for the right thing to be done from a bad motive. Apart from Bentham, there are two other philosophers called John Stuart Mill and Henry Sidgwick. Jeremy Bentham lived from 1748 to 1832 during a time of great scientific and social change in which Thomas Hobbes described life as ‘poor, solitary, nasty, brutish and short’.
The difference between an uncritical egoistic hedonist and Epicurus is what outcome is being sought after. Uncritical hedonists base their selections on whatever will give them the most pleasure at that moment. Epicurus, and other rational/critical egoistic hedonists base their choices on what will lead to the most pleasure (or least amount of pain) in the future. According to his philosophy, the only way to attain long-term pleasure is to practice the virtues of simplicity and prudence in every aspect of life. Epicurus believed one must understand the desires that motivate him to attain peace of mind.
He said, in principles of morals and legislation, 'nature has placed mankind underthe governance of two sovereign masters, pain and pleasure. It is for them alone to point out what we ought to do, as well as to determine what we shall do' The principle of utility Once Bentham had established that pleasure and pain were important qualities for determining what was moral, he developed the utility principle. The rightness or wrongness of an action is determined by its 'utility' or usefulness, Usefulness refers to the amound of pleasure or happiness caused by the action - hence it is a teleogical ethical theory which determines a good act by the ends it brings about. The theory is known as the greatest happiness principle, or a theory of usefulness. 'An action is right if it produces th greatest good for the greatest number', where the greatest good is the greatest pleasure or happiness and the least pain or sadness, and the
Utilitarianism is a theory in normative ethics holding that the proper course of action is the one that maximizes utility, usually defined as maximizing happiness and reducing suffering. Classic utilitarianism's two most influential contributors are Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill. John Stuart Mill in his book Utilitarianism, stated, "In the golden rule of Jesus of Nazareth, we read the complete spirit of the ethics of utility. To do as one would be done by, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, constitute the ideal perfection of utilitarian morality." According to Bentham and Mill, Utilitarianism is hedonistic only when the result of an action has no decidedly negative impact on others.
Bentham believes that humans are motivated by a desire to experience as much pleasure as possible and avoid experiences of pain. Bentham explains his principle of utility as 'utility is meant that property of any object, whereby it tends to produce benefit, advantage, pleasure, good happiness to prevent the happenings of mischief, pain, evil or unhappiness to the party whose interest is concerned.' He (Bentham) provided the means of measuring he amounts of pleasure out actions would create.
An example of this could be avoiding to do work because free time brings pleasure but doing work causes boredom which then causes pain. Bentham states how we make our own decisions using the outcome of pleasure as something to strive for and by doing so we should also be striving for the greatest good for the greatest number which can increase pleasure in the world. Secondly, the principle of utility is the part which follows the motivation of human beings. Bentham developed the principle of utility to state how the right or wrong actions can be determined by its usefulness. The usefulness relates to the extent of the greatest amount of happiness which someone can bring to themselves.
David Hume introduced the concept of utility into ethics – and Francis Hutcheson first coined the phrase that is the objective of utility: “the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people”. Utiliterianism in general was articulated by Jeremy Bentham who was a hedonist. As a hedonist, Bentham regarded pleasure to be good and pain to be bad. Hedonism is the fundamentalist belief of utilitarianism. Bentham developed the hedonic calculus to help us asses and decide on a situation, based on utilitarianism.
So in terms of operant conditioning, the relationship is being positively reinforced because it's rewarding and hence the behaviour involved from both sides is likely to be repeated. Both needs and rewards need to be fulfilled for a relationship to work and this should be throughout as you need to satisfy your partner's needs in order to get your rewards (mutual affection), which in essence is what keeps the relationship going if there is a balance. They also conclude that we like people we associate with pleasurable feelings which is a form of classical conditioning as if we meet someone when we are in a positive mood we are more likely to like them than if we meet them when we are in a negative mood. Moreover, there is physiological evidence to support the roles of rewards in the formation of relationships. Aaron et al found those who scored high on a self report questionnaire of romantic love showed strong activity in