This selection is taken from his criticism of utilitarianism in utilitarianism. Williams arguments against utilitarianism are set out in h is utilitarianism. Brandt in his recent book calls act utilitarianism and which i, in an earlier article, called, less happily, extreme utilitarianism. Oct 07, 2014 smart went on to give an example of how a class of actions could be justified on the grounds of extreme utilitarianism. But to refuse to break such a rule even when it would be beneficial to do so seems irrational. Bernard williams,a critique of utilitarianism, in jjc smart and bernard williams, utilitarianism. For and against 1973, but are also scattered through others of his works. Doctrine worthy of swine too high for humanity no time to calculate. He is committed to the principle of utility to the act which does more good, gives greater benefit, or which satisfies more preferences desires. Extreme utilitarians are concerned with consequences while restricted utilitarians are not. Smarts discussion combines an overview of moral theory and a defense of act utilitarianism. Lec 3 smart and rawls phl 275 introduction to ethics m2. Smarts essay is a slightly revised version of his earlier essay, an outline of utilitarian ethics. Utilitarianism, many such critics favor another version of this theory called rule utilitarianism.
He explains that his belief is in actutilitarianism which posits that the rightness or wrongness of an action depends only on the total goodness or badness of its consequences, i. Start studying phil 103 chapter 2 consequentialism introduction and two versions of utilitarianism,j. The distinction between these two types of ethical theory is explained in his essay extreme and restricted utilitarianism. In the first part of the book, professor smart advocates a modern and sophisticated version of classical utilitarianism. Another common argument against utilitarianism is that it is seemingly impractical as a governing philosophy for the general body of mankind. Utilitarianism, for and against in searchworks catalog. Cambridge core political philosophy utilitarianism by j. May 17, 2018 argumentative essay against utilitarianism. Smart published in 1961, together with a critique of it by bernard williams. Phil 103 chapter 2 consequentialism introduction and two.
Smart argued against the idea that utilitarians could avoid counterintuitive moral judgments by adopting an indirect version of their theory such as rule utilitarianism. In his research he claims that in every action there should be a part where it conforms to and with the principle of utility. He supposed that a man was drowning in a river near berchtesgaden in 1938 and he had a high resemblance of the villainous dictator adolf hitler, the rescuer, with no time to spare, trusted his instincts and saved him. Utilitarianism is an idea that was introduced in the study by jeremy bentham. Pdf the standard objection to the utilitarian vision of morality is that utilitarian socalled. Smart and bernard williams each take half the book to explain utilitarianism as they understand it, and to argue pro smart and con williams. Rule utilitarianism is the variation that says that we must judge the worth of action by how well it conforms to moral rules that have been deemed good according to the utilitarian standard. If there is a problem with consequentialism, it af. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools.
In one section of williams essay, he gives two dilemmas, states what a utilitarian would decide, questions the decision and then argues against it. An outline of a system of utilitarian ethics utilitarianism. To do so, smart claimed, was to succumb to superstitious ruleworship. This essay argues that as long as one assumes that morality is an expression of a distinctive moral point of view. But both hold equally that morality must be deduced from principles. Two essays on utilitarianism, written from opposite points of view, by j. Jan 01, 1973 this is one of the better books on the topic, for utilitarianism, or ethics, or philosophy in general. According to the first, rule utilitarianism collapses into act utilitarianism because there is no adequate criterion on what can count as a rule.
This is because utilitarianism is chiefly concerned with happiness, or pleasure. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read utilitarianism. Smart does the best he can in the for essay in this brief volume, but the odds are stacked against him. It offers a simplicity that many other philosophical approaches lack and in particular cuts through the mish mash of moral rules favoured by deontological thinkers. That is a book which contains an admirably clear and fair discussion of many ethical principles and methods. Pdf this paper argues that people from all walks of life are required to make. Smart gave two arguments against rule utilitarianism.
For and against in which both authors take opposing sides with smart arguing for and williams against. Smart and bernard williams, utilitarianism, for and against toronto. Smart claims that restricted utilitarianism amount t. Two concepts of rule utilitarianism oxford scholarship.
Traces of utilitarian thought can be found in the works of plato and aristotle, but not until the eighteenth century did utilitarianism truly begin to emerge as a welldefined and. Smart and bernard williams frontmatter more information. The problem is that human beings are extremely variable. Of recent years normative ethics has become distinguished from metaethics. This is one of the better books on the topic, for utilitarianism, or ethics, or philosophy in general.
In this book smart argues for utilitarianism and williams against it. Although different varieties of utilitarianism admit different characterizations, the basic idea behind all of them is to in some sense maximize utility, which is often defined in terms of wellbeing or related concepts. Extreme utilitarians claim that we should always blame wrongdoers while restricted utilitarians do not. The book begins with a definition and defense of utilitarianism by j. The selection was divided into 5 parts, excluding the introduction. This title consists of two essays on utilitarianism, written from opposite points of view, by j. Throughout his career, jj smart was a staunch defender of extreme utilitarianism, to which he gives two main points against its rule restricted opponent. Moreover, since both egoism and utilitarianism supply ultimate ends. Bernard williams this title consists of two essays on utilitarianism, written from opposite points of view, by j. Utilitarianism can be broken down into two factions. The best sustained exposition of act utilitarianism is, i think, that in sidgwicks methods of ethics,5 but sidgwick stated it within the. Utilitarianism 7 as well as truth and falsehood, are questions of observation and experience. Moore 39 i propose, then, to begin by an examination of mills utilitarianism.
Smart, an outline of a system of utilitarian ethics, in utilitarianism. Smart and bernard williams excerpt more information. Smart went on to give an example of how a class of actions could be justified on the grounds of extreme utilitarianism. Utilitarianism is a family of consequentialist ethical theories that promotes actions that maximize happiness and wellbeing for the majority of a population. Williams arguments against utilitarianism are set out in his. Restricted utilitarians hold that conformity to rules determines right action while extreme utilitarians do not. According to smart, the main difference between extreme act and.
Utilitarianism, act and rule internet encyclopedia of. Moore produced, as a result of philosophical reflection, systems of normative ethics. Utilitarianism7 as well as truth and falsehood, are questions of observation and experience. An argument against utilitarianism rambling writings. Mill exposes not a few simple mistakes which are very likely to. In the first part of the book professor smart advocates a modern and sophisticated version of classical utilitarianism. Arguments against utilitarianism, origin and criticism essay. Utilitarianism john stuart mill mcmaster faculty of social. Dryer, university of toronto utilitarianism, for and against contains in a single volume a slightly revised version of an outline of a system of utilitarian ethics which j.
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