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UTILITARIANISMUTILITARIANISM

do whatever produces the

greatest good for the greatestnumber.

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It is derived from the Latin words

UTILEBONUM UTILEBONUMor ITILISITILISwhich means USEFULNESS.USEFULNESS.

Considered the mostimportant consequentialist.

It makes utility or usefulness anorm of morality.

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TWOMAIN PROPONENTSOFUTILITARIANISMTWOMAIN PROPONENTSOFUTILITARIANISM

JEREMYBENTHAM ( 1748JEREMYBENTHAM ( 1748 --1832 )1832 )He was disgusted by the way theHe was disgusted by the way thelegal and political professions usedlegal and political professions usedtheir power to oppress those beneaththeir power to oppress those beneath

then in social order.then in social order.

He published his first book entitledHe published his first book entitled Non Non--sense on Stiltssense on Stilts

He create laws not just for theHe create laws not just for theconvenient of the elite but also forconvenient of the elite but also forthe best interest of wholethe best interest of wholecommunity.community.

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BENTHAMSETHICAL PHILOSOPHYBENTHAMSETHICAL PHILOSOPHY

Utilitymeans that propertyin anyobjectUtilitymeans that propertyin anyobjectwhichtends to produce benefit,whichtends to produce benefit,advantage, pleasure, good or happiness.advantage, pleasure, good or happiness.

An action is considered right or wrongAn action is considered right or wrongdepending on the consequence.depending on the consequence.

Utilitarian principle disregard theUtilitarian principle disregard theimportance of motives because motives isimportance of motives because motives is

known onlyto the person who has it.known onlyto the person who has it.

The greatest good is the greatest pleasureThe greatest good is the greatest pleasureof greatest number.of greatest number.

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JOHNSTUARTMILL ( 1806JOHNSTUARTMILL ( 1806 1873 )1873 )

TWOMAIN PROPONENTSOFUTILITARIANISMTWOMAIN PROPONENTSOFUTILITARIANISM

MILLSETHICAL PHILOSOPHYMILLSETHICAL PHILOSOPHY

An actthat cause promotesAn actthat cause promotes

happiness is moral and thathappiness is moral and thatwhich cause pain is immoral.which cause pain is immoral.

Act onlyifthe action willAct onlyifthe action will

promote the greatest amountpromote the greatest amountofhappiness for the greatestofhappiness for the greatestnumber of persons.number of persons.

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GENERALCRITERIAFORWHATMAKESUP HAPPINESSGENERALCRITERIAFORWHATMAKESUP HAPPINESS

Negative definition:Negative definition:HAPPINESSis the absence of pain.HAPPINESSis the absence of pain.

Positive definition:Positive definition:HAPPINESSis anything thatisHAPPINESSis anything thatis

pleasurable to the greater number of people.pleasurable to the greater number of people.

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TWOFORMSOF PLEASUREACCORDINGTOMILLTWOFORMSOF PLEASUREACCORDINGTOMILL

PHYSICAL PLEASUREPHYSICAL PLEASURE

Is the sensualindulgences to bodilygratification. ( e.g. sexualintercourse, eating, drinking, dancing etc.

Itis the lower form of pleasure and considered byMill asanimalistic or beastly.

MENTAL PLEASUREMENTAL PLEASURE Refers to intellectual, spiritual and moral pleasures. ( e.g.man's noble feelings,imagination, and moral sentiments.)

Itis superior and is generallymore difficultto achieve andpursuing them gives dignityto a man.

Pleasure ofthis form includes enjoyment of freedom ofthewill,intellect, social recognition, felling of self worth andrespect.

Happiness as pleasure.

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Criticisms onCriticisms onUtilitarianismUtilitarianism

BusinessBusiness

ApplicationApplication

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CASESTUDY: CONFIDENTIALITYCASESTUDY: CONFIDENTIALITY

"You are employedasa technical communicator byCaduceus Company, a major provider of software systems for the health care industry.

Currently, you are working on help-desk instructions for a new software system thatoperates from a database accumulated from all the records of all the hospitals, clinics,HMOs, laboratories, and physicians inyour state. These records carrya good deal ofhighlypersonal information on patients and are, of course, private and confidential.The revelation of some ofthis information to the wrong people could be seriouslydamaging for those patients. Improper release ofthis information could, for example,limit theiremployability, damage their reputations, or restrict their access to healthinsurance at affordable rates. Part ofyour job, in fact is to ensure that confidentiality ismaintained byallwho use the system while preventing access to those who mightmisuse it.

Just yesterday, you learned of some shocking information. While observing the typicaldailyoperation ofthe help-desk staffin resolving users' questions, you recognized thename of one ofthe clients called up on a screen. I t is the name ofyour cousin's fianc,

and the entry indicates that he has tested positive for HIVand has received counselingabout HIVandAIDS from a local clinic. You andyour cousin are veryclose, andyouare certain that she is unaware that her intended spouse has tested positive for HIV.The marriage is onlya few weeks awa y. She would be highlyendangered aftermarriage but also in their current relations without this knowledge.

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QUESTION:

Do you reveal this information to your cousinbut violate the privacy and

confidentiality that you have sworn yourself toand are legally obliged to maintain? Ordo you keep the information to yourself butjeopardize the health and life of your

cousin by preserving the deception by herfianc.

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