Do you agree with Utilitarianism that the highest good is pleasure (intellectual or physical)? What does that?

Question

Do you agree with Utilitarianism that the highest good is pleasure (intellectual or physical)? What does that say about the value of the lives of people who cannot experience such pleasure (for example, severely mentally or physically disabled people)? Do you foresee any problems with such a view? Is there more to life than pleasure?

Answer 1

The simplest way I can put this is to say that the utilitarian view of the 'highest good' is simply wrong. Period.

The whole point of determining what is good and what is MORE good in the first place is to know what you can compromise for what. If spending time with your family is more good than doing well at your job (or vice versa) then you know which to cut into.

It may seem silly sometimes to draw these comparisons, but they do come up from time to time. The above one I mention is probably one we deal with daily, and one people have different answers to. For the utilitarians to be right, there must be NOTHING more important than pleasure.

To which I have one response - the survival of the human race.

Although a utilitarian might say that without survival there is no pleasure so it still fits in to his highest good, let's consider a situation where the two are diametrically opposed: humanity can survive but will be entirely bereft of pleasure or it can experience pleasure but be wiped out. Faced with such a choice, a utilitarian can only choose short-term pleasure over none at all. And will die.

Utilitarianism is, therefore, a form of suicide. Perhaps the conditions which trigger it aren't likely to arise... this does not change its underlying nature, however. A survivalist will outlast a utilitarian, and be right by virtue of existing.

So it goes.

Answer 2

The highest satisfaction can only be had when all three come to together at the right time. Example: the sensual pleasure of a great meal during which a great intellectual discussion happens that leads to the bedroom. Than more and true sensual pleasure happens and right before your fall a sleep you hear the ultimate in ego gratification, but it also means so much more, " I Love you." We all could use more of those days.

Answer 3

Utilitarianism is for the greatest pleasure(happiness) for the greatest number of people, but not only physical or intellectual, but also spiritual; which is the most important. Isn't this what everyone is looking for, happiness?

Yes, of course I agree, but make no mistake, Hedonism, Narcissism, and Egoism have nothing to do with this; which is what happens when you miss the spiritual part.

Good luck!

Answer 4

The problem with Utilitarianism is that it allows untold cruelty to several individuals if the result is the pleasure of thousands. Throwing Christians to lions might be an example.

It also implies that the end justifies the means and I'd take issue with that almost every time.
So 'no', I don't agree with it.

Answer 5

"Utilitarianism is the union of hedonism and Christianity. The first teaches man to love pleasure; the second, to love his neighbor's pleasure. The union consists in teaching man to love his neighbor's pleasure. To be exact, the Utilitarians teach that an action is moral if its result is to maximize pleasure among men in general. This theory holds that man's duty is to serve - according to a purely quantitative standard of value." (Leonard Peikoff)

"The greatest good for the greatest number", is one of the most vicious slogans ever foisted on humanity. This slogan has no concrete, specific meaning. There is no way to interpret it benevolently, but a great many ways in which it can be used to justify the most vicious actions.

What is the definition of "the good" in this slogan? None, except: whatever is good for the greatest number. Who, in any particular issue, decides what is good for the greatest number? Why, the greatest number?

If you consider this moral, you would have to approve of the following examples, which are exact applications of this slogan in practice: fifty-one percent of humanity enslaving the other forty-nine; nin hungry cannibals eating the tenth one; a lynching mob murdering a man whom they considered dangerous to the commuinity.

- Ayn Rand

Answer 6

Speaking an atheist I see that technology and ethics will one day make what could be called heaven; and hopfully revive the dead and teach them virtue so it can fit it's role even better.

Therefore it is the duty of every man to at best help get us to that point both technologically and ethically and at least minimize how little they damage that.

If you gain pleasure in ways that promote the future heaven you are blessed, if you gain pleasure by destroying the growth then your emotions are your greatest enemy.

Whether these people should die I do not know, would it actually hurt progress by saying it is ethically ok to banish the unwanted when heaven is for everyone?

Answer 7

Ultimately we do what makes us feel good. Those of us who feel good from say, teaching, feel superior to those who feel good from diddling kids. I'm no exception. But I often wonder what lottery I won that what makes me feel good is "more noble" pursuits. How fortunate really. I suppose if I were motivated strongly enough to do something gross, I'd do that.

I think people assign a higher morality value to emotional pursuits and altruistic or cooperative pursuits than physical pleasures. Not sure why - And again, I agree with doing that -

If you are tuned in emotionally you discover there is a "good and bad" scale to our behaviors and when you DO good you FEEL good - that's real.

Rambling answer - * sigh *

There's my two cents.

Answer 8

Theodore Kaczynski. Really smart guy. Harvard grad. Earned his PhD in mathmatics by solving a math problem that Piranian couldn't. He found happiness and a 'good' in his Unabomber Manifesto which he saw as an ethical doctrine that had moral worth. I somehow don't think the people he blew apart saw things the same way.

Answer 9

Utlitarianism does NOT say pleasure is the highest good..

HEDONISM says pleasure is the highest good...

Utlitarianism says that UTILITY is the highest good...
UTILITY is the usefulness of something...

I think the highest good is widespread Ecstasy...!! What is better than EVERYONE being ecstatic at all times?