Philosophy 160
Introduction to Ethics

Handout 6 - Utilitarianism

AUh (Act Utilitarianism of a hedonistic sort):

AUh: an act is morally right if and only if it maximizes hedonic utility

The hedonic utility of an action is the amount of pleasure it would cause, minus the amount of pain it would cause.

To say that an act maximizes hedonic utility is to say that no alternative to that act has a higher hedonic utility than it has.

Defective Formulations of Utilitarianism:

MU: an act is morally right if it causes pleasure and morally wrong if it causes pain.

GHP: an act is morally right if and only if it produces the greatest happiness for the greatest number.

AUx: an act is morally right if and only if it causes more pleasure and less pain than any alternative.

AUm: an act is morally right if and only if it produces more pleasure than pain.

Ross's Argument from Promises:

Alternatives                                     Hedonic Utilities
- keep promise to A                         +1000
- break promise to A                        +1001

1. If AUh is true, then I should break the promise to A.
2. It's not the case that I should break the promise to A.
3. Therefore, AUh is not true.

The Organ Harvest:

Alternatives                                                                      Hedonic Utilities
- Kill Digit; transplant organs; save the other four                     +2500
- Treat Digit; don’t do the transplants; the other four die           -2000


1. If AUh is true, then it is morally permissible for the doctor to kill Digit in order to save the others.
2. It is not morally permissible for the doctor to kill Digit in order to save the others.
3. Therefore, AUh is not true.