Feeling Our Way to the Common Good: Utilitarianism and Moral Sentiments, Essay Example

Utilitarianism is the philosophy that doing what is morally and ethically right should bring both the world and the individual pleasure, just as doing what is naturally morally and ethically wrong should bring pain or displeasure. “The principle of utility demands to approve or disapprove of every action whatsoever, according to the tendency which it appears to have to augment or diminish the happiness of the party whose interest is in question (both individual and collective) (Zunjic).” Authors Fehige and Frank explore the concept of utilitarianism and how a utilitarian can decipher what is a morally good decision and which ones are bad (Fehige and Frank, 2010).

Part of the difficulty one finds in leading a decent, moral life is that it is unclear at times what is moral and what is decent. “The standards of the good and the right are controversial in the public arena, and no less controversial among the legions of moral philosophers who get paid for elucidating them (Fehige and Frank, 2010).” The authors acknowledge that many people shrink away from utilitarianism because it forces them to accept acts or thoughts that they feel are immoral because the act will result in the better good for a larger number of people in society.  Deciding what acts will cause the most people benefit or harm can be difficult and confusing. Individuals who embrace utilitarian philosophy may have difficulty deciding which decisions will bring the most good to the world.

The authors recommend using what they call shortcuts in order for the utilitarian to decide what is moral and what is not. Moral sentiments are suggested as a shortcut (144). Moral sentiments are strong feelings that something is right or wrong, in other words, a ‘gut feeling.’ The authors state that it is an inherent human ability to be able to tell what is right and what is wrong. By following their moral compass, individuals can make moral decisions without having to contemplate the exact effects of each and every decision they make. The authors successfully argue, using sound reasoning and logic, that individuals are able to instinctively know what is right and wrong. “When they go out upon the sea of life, utilitarians should use subordinate principles” to make ethically moral decisions.

References

Fehige, C. and Frank, R.H. (January, 2010) Feeling Our Way to the Common Good: Utilitarianism and Moral Sentiments. The Monist. 93(1), 141-165. Print.

Zunjic, Bob. Jeremy Bentham: An Introduction to the Principles and Morals of Legislation (1789) The University of Rhode Island Online. Retrieved from http://www.uri.edu/personal/szunjic/philos/util.htm