Jeremy Bentham: Psychological Hedonism

1
Jeremy Bentham Psychological Hedonism

• An account of human nature is necessary in order
  to describe morals and legislation
  scientifically.
• Just as we explain nature by means of the laws of
  physics, we can explain human behavior via two
  primary motives.
• PLEASURE
• PAIN
• This is the theory of psychological hedonism.

2
The Role of Pleasure Pain

• Pleasure and pain provide explanations for action
  as well as define what a person deems good.
• Pleasures pains can only exist in individuals.
• Bentham thought you could construct a calculus
  of value on this basis.
• Calculation would be easier to do if only have to
  take into account the individual.

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The Hedonic Calculus

• 1.  The intensity of the pleasure or pain.
• 2.  The duration of the pleasure or pain.
• 3.  The certainty or uncertainty of the pleasure
  or pain.
• 4.  The remoteness of any pleasure or pain.
  (Propinquity)
• 5.  The chances of the same effects being
  repeated. (Fecundity)
• 6.  The chances of the same effects not being
  repeated. (Purity)
• 7.  The number of people who will be affected by
  any pleasure or pain arising as a result of the
  action(s) in question. 

4
Two Aspects of the Individual

• Individuals are, by nature, hedonistic driven
  by pleasure and pain.
• Individuals also exhibit a natural, rational
  self-interest -- called psychological egoism.
• Bentham believed a persons fundamental interest
  was their own well-being
• He believed that the human capacity of REASON--
  was in service of this interest.

5
Human Nature Not Described as Social

• Bentham believed that the nature of the human
  person can be adequately described without
  mention of social relationships.
• For Bentham the idea of a relation was a
  fictitious concept
• Although we needed the concept in order to be
  able to talk conveniently.

6
Community is a fictitious body

• The community is only "the sum of the interests
  of the several members who compose it."
• A person's relations with others -- even if
  important -- are not essential and describe
  nothing that is necessary to a person being what
  it is.

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Benthams Moral Philosophy

• There are three principal characteristics of
  Benthams Moral Philosophy
• The Greatest Happiness Principle
• Universal Egoism
• The artificial identification of one's interests
  with those of others.

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Moral Obligation in Benthams Theory

• What is morally obligatory is that which produces
  the greatest amount of happiness for the greatest
  number of people.
• How do we measure happiness?
• By the presence of pleasure
• By the absence of pain.

9
The Advantages of Utility

• Bentham argued that there are advantages to a
  moral philosophy based on a principle of utility.
  
• It is clear.
• It allows for objective and disinterested public
  discussion.
• It enables decisions to be made where there seem
  to be conflicts of legitimate interests.

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Human Equality as Benefit of the Calculus

• The calculus involves a fundamental commitment to
  human equality.
• The Principle of Utility presupposes that 'one
  man is worth just the same as another man'
• Thus there is a guarantee that in calculating the
  greatest happiness "each person is to count for
  one and no one for more than one."