Video 19: Does the End Justify the Means?

• Utilitarianism: consequences determine morality; there are appropriate times to sacrifice rights

• Jeremy Bentham: moral values are not based on custom or authority but on reason alone.  Morality should be based on the greatest amount of happiness for the greatest number (including animals); purely quantifiable
• Objection: does this not sacrifice the minority to the benefits of the majority?

• J. S. Mill: the quality of happiness must be considered as well

• Criticisms of utilitarianism

• the end does not always justify the means
• utilitarianism requires us to predict consequences (which is impossible)

• Ideal utilitarianism (G. E. Moore): some values are intrinsic

• Deep ecology (Arne Naess): nature (including individuals and diversity) is intrinsically valuable