utilitarianism

[billcu1]

What is utilitarianism? I first came across this in some moral teachings from John Paul II. ?

 

[ccmnxc]

I could be completely butchering this, but I am pretty sure it is a moral philosophy that says something along the lines of: “The most moral choice is the one the creates the greatest amount of happiness for the greatest amount of people.”

 

[fredystairs]

I could be completely butchering this, but I am pretty sure it is a moral philosophy that says something along the lines of: “The most moral choice is the one the creates the greatest amount of happiness for the greatest amount of people.”

What you said is correct. Another aspect is minimizing pain for the most people.

Pope John Paul II mentioned Utilitarianism in his encyclical “Vertatis Splendor”:

“utilitarianism…, where morality of human acts would be judged without any reference to man’s true ulitmate end.” (VS 74) Man’s true ulitimate end is of course, final union with God, or getting to heaven.

The problem with utilitarianism, and some of the other ethical theories that Pope John Paul discusses in the encyclical is that they are subjective. How can I determine what is the maximum amount of happiness for the maximum number of people? Further, the individual would not have any rights under such a system, since one would want to maximize the happiness of the others. What your rights are, being made in the image and likeness of God, is not important; its what the masses of humanity want that count.

Hope that this helps.

Peace

 

[Lancer]

First, the Catholic definition/understanding of the meaning

(Latin utilis, useful).

Utilitarianism is a modern form of the Hedonistic ethical theory which teaches that the end of human conduct is happiness, and that consequently the discriminating norm which distinguishes conduct into right and wrong is pleasure and pain. In the words of one of its most distinguished advocates, John Stuart Mill,

the creed which accepts as the foundation of morals, utility or the greatest happiness principle, holds that actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness. By happiness is intended pleasure and the absence of pain; by unhappiness, pain and the privation of pleasure (Utilitarianism, ii, 1863)
newadvent.org/cathen/15241c.htm
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Second, the context of Blessed Pope John Paul II’s use/context in one of his most important encyclicals…with particular note on what happens…how God handles Mankind when Man decides Utilitarianism is the way to live…run the world/nation states/design the common good for Mankind.

IOANNES PAULUS PP. II

EVANGELIUM VITAE

…on the Value and Inviolability
of Human Life

INTRODUCTION

1. The Gospel of life is at the heart of Jesus’ message. Lovingly received day after day by the Church, it is to be preached with dauntless fidelity as “good news” to the people of every age and culture.

23.** The eclipse of the sense of God and of man** inevitably leads to a practical materialism, which breeds individualism, utilitarianism and hedonism. Here too we see the permanent validity of the words of the Apostle: “And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a base mind and to improper conduct” (Rom 1:28). The values of being are replaced by those of having. The only goal which counts is the pursuit of one’s own material well-being. The so-called “quality of life” is interpreted primarily or exclusively as economic efficiency, inordinate consumerism, physical beauty and pleasure, to the neglect of the more profound dimensions-interpersonal, spiritual and religious-of existence.

**Lastly, looking at the scripture in context…as you read it note how God deals with it…He abandons Man to his own devices…rather than wreak wrath and disaster…he steps back so to speak…and lets us have our way…then think about our society/culture today…all the Western Cultures especially, and let the history of our last 50+ years flow through your mind and you can see God’s plan unfold before your very eyes. This Romans: 18-32 is a very scary and ominously real live situation. Also, note…everyone suffers by God’s action or rather his giving us up to our own blindness and pride…both the good and bad actors in this drama suffer the results of our folly. We need to relearn a basic common sense rule…when you find yourself in a hole…the first order of business is to stop digging…but, no we are still digging and at a death breaking speed and efficiency. Western Culture is a dinosaur just looking for the right time to be come extinct…unless God for his own Name and Glory…decides to save us from ourselves…and if he does…it will be as he did before and always does…the the Body of Christ…his vicar on Earth, The Pope, and his actual Body…the Church of Christ and all those in full communion with Her.

Pax Christi**

Romans 1: 28 in context:

Romans 1:18-32
Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSV-CE)

The Guilt of Mankind

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and wickedness of men who by their wickedness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 Ever since the creation of the world his invisible nature, namely, his eternal power and deity, has been clearly perceived in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse; 21 for although they knew God they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking and their senseless minds were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man or birds or animals or reptiles.

24** Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed for ever! Amen.**

26 For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. Their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural, 27 and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in their own persons the due penalty for their error.

28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a base mind and to improper conduct. 29 They were filled with all manner of wickedness, evil, covetousness, malice. Full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malignity, they are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Though they know God’s decree that those who do such things deserve to die, they not only do them but approve those who practice them.

 

[teeboy]

Utility often deals with property, pleasure,$ or wealth as opposed to Beatitude.

Beatitude is pure joy.

Utility is based on couvetness.

 

[Love4All]

What you said is correct. Another aspect is minimizing pain for the most people.

Pope John Paul II mentioned Utilitarianism in his encyclical “Vertatis Splendor”:

“utilitarianism…, where morality of human acts would be judged without any reference to man’s true ulitmate end.” (VS 74) Man’s true ulitimate end is of course, final union with God, or getting to heaven.

The problem with utilitarianism, and some of the other ethical theories that Pope John Paul discusses in the encyclical is that they are subjective. How can I determine what is the maximum amount of happiness for the maximum number of people? Further, the individual would not have any rights under such a system, since one would want to maximize the happiness of the others. What your rights are, being made in the image and likeness of God, is not important; its what the masses of humanity want that count.

Hope that this helps.

Peace

I think the main problem with Utilitarianism, even if you could divest it of its subjective element, is that it is impersonal. Love naturally prefers the well-being of the beloved to that of a stranger. Even in the natural order, some are more deserving of favor than others, and in the supernatural order there is merit. Utilitarianism tries to reduce “good” to statistics.

 

[MarcusAndreas]

Certain forms of utilitarianism are compatible with Christianity, especially historical utilitarianism, which is the ideological underpinning of traditional conservatism.