Utilitarianism Chapter 3 Of the Ultimate Sanction of the Principle of Utility

 

Conclusion:  A philosophy cannot be binding if it does not contain necessary consequences for those who break its laws.

I.      If a person is presented with a principle that they do not consider important, that person will see no reason to respect or value the principle.

A) “If my own happiness lies in something else, why may I not give that the preference?” (Pg 27)

II.     “The principle of utility either has, or there is no reason why it might not have, all the sanctions which belong to any other system of morals.”(Pg 28)

A) External sanctions exist externally to the human agent as an individual; they may take the form of peer pressure-the fear of their disapproval-or of divine pleasure-the fear of his wrath.

B) Internal sanctions stem from one conscience; these consist of feelings in one’s own mind that create discomfort when one violates a duty.

C) It’s not merely about correcting actions, it’s about motivating them.

III.   Many people believe that individuals are more likely to follow moral principles if they see them as objective fact rather than if they see them as embedded in subjective feelings.         

A)  This is a problem that is facing all humanity, not just the philosophy of utilitarianism.

.       B)    If internal sanctions provide the strongest influence over people’s actions, utilitarianism must appeal to people’s inner sentiments.

IV.    Sentiment of duty is innate or implanted

A)  Distinction is not important because in either case it would support utilitarianism.

 

B)  Moral feelings are acquired; however, this does not mean that they are not natural.

 

C)  Moral feelings may not be a part of human nature, but they are a natural result of it.

V.     People must be able to feel that promoting general happiness is morally a good thing.

A) Once general happiness becomes recognized as the moral standard, natural sentiment will nurture feelings that encourage utilitarianism.

        B) Humans would want to be in agreement with other humans.

C) All people’s interests have equal worth.

D) Society should and could nourish this natural sentiment through education and law.

E) If the feeling of social unity were taught the way religion is, and implanted as an internal sanction, then utilitarianism could exert a binding force sufficient to influence behavior.