What is Utilitarianism?

Utilitarianism is a moral theory of what is right and wrong. It is a two-part thesis. The first part of that thesis is a theory of value. By definition, this part of the thesis seeks to identify what is good to bring about in the world. The second part is the theory of right action, which identifies what the right action is. Generally, Utilitarianism identifies that what is good to bring about in the world is happiness, or, the absence of suffering. The right action, it follows on this view, is that which brings about the most happiness, or if this kind of conjecture is not available, what is expected to bring about the most happiness. As we will see in this lesson and further lessons, philosophers disagree about the finer details of this moral theory. Some want a very precise definition of what happiness is. Some argue that this is preference satisfaction or pleasure and the like. Philosophers also disagree about what right actions are, in light of what has been "shown" to be valuable. Some think that the right action is that which is arrived at after considering what is valuable, and looking at the facts of the case. Some think that over time, we will develop rules which when followed, will be shown to lead to happiness, and as long as the rule fits the case before us, following this rule is the right action.