Utilitarianism: Bentham, Mill, and UPSC Application

Introduction

Utilitarianism is one of the most influential normative ethical theories, central to UPSC GS Paper 4 (Ethics). Developed primarily by Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832) and refined by John Stuart Mill (1806-1873), utilitarianism judges actions by their consequences-specifically by their contribution to overall happiness or welfare. This note covers the theory, key differences between its founders, criticisms, and application in governance contexts.

Core Principles of Utilitarianism

The Greatest Happiness Principle

• Central axiom: Actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they produce the reverse of happiness
• Happiness: Pleasure and absence of pain
• Unhappiness: Pain and privation of pleasure
• Consequentialist (Teleological): Only outcomes matter, not intentions or motives
• Welfarist: The goodness of outcomes is measured by the welfare of affected beings

Bentham's Classical Utilitarianism

Quantitative Hedonism

• Hedonic Calculus (Felicific Calculus) - seven dimensions to measure pleasure:
  1. Intensity: How strong is the pleasure?
  2. Duration: How long does it last?
  3. Certainty: How likely is it to occur?
  4. Propinquity (Remoteness): How soon?
  5. Fecundity: Will it lead to further pleasures?
  6. Purity: Will it be followed by pain? 7....