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Utilitarianism

In: Efficiency, Equality and Public Policy

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  • Yew-Kwang Ng

    (Monash University)

Abstract

Utilitarianism is the belief that the ultimate objective of the society should be the maximisation of the unweighted sum of individual welfares (or utilities, ignoring the differences between the two; in the presence of such differences, it is argued in Chapter 4 that welfares should be the one to use). A utilitarian SWF is the unweighted sum of individual welfares. If we do not confuse non-ultimate considerations with basic values, it seems natural that the right ultimate objective for the society should be the unweighted sum of individual welfares, and was taken to be so by all classical utilitarians. (The difference between preference and welfare, discussed in Chapter 4, is largely ignored in this chapter.) Many modern philosophers and economists are sceptical. However, arguments for the compellingness of utilitarianism are overwhelming. In my view, utilitarianism has never been adequately shown to be unacceptable, if the correct ‘ultimate’ view is taken. (And if we are confining utilitarianism to the society rather than to the individual level; see Goodin, 1995 for an argument that utilitarianism makes more sense as a public than as a private moral philosophy.)

Suggested Citation

  • Yew-Kwang Ng, 2000. "Utilitarianism," Palgrave Macmillan Books, in: Efficiency, Equality and Public Policy, chapter 5, pages 57-81, Palgrave Macmillan.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:palchp:978-0-333-99277-7_5
    DOI: 10.1057/9780333992777_5
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