St.

Paul University Surigao

St. Paul University System

8400 Surigao City, Philippines

MODULE 4

FRAMEWORKS AND THEORIES BEHIND OUR MORAL DISPOSITION

Introduction

“Gusto ko, happy ka!” is the campaign slogan of the former Senator Juan Ponce Enrile. The
question is, “What makes you happy”? Is your happiness the same with others in the society? There are those
people whose happiness is the sadness of others, self-serving happiness. They are after of their own happiness
never mind what others may feel or think. Worse, there are those who are considered as “trigger-happy”, their
happiness is in their guns, worse, if they can kill people, such incidents are happening in the United States of
America. Here, in the Philippines, are those belonging to Abu Sayyaf Group, some NPAs, and some members of
drug syndicates. What then is the picture of our society if our barometer in an ethical theory to be used is
happiness?

The next ethical framework or theory to be introduced is Utilitarian Theory popularized by Jeremy
Bentham and John Stuart Mill. This theory emphasizes on happiness as the “barometer of right morality through
the calculation of more pleasure produced over pain” (Gallinero, 2018:88). It has been said that we are not in a
perfect society and that we are not in a perfect order of things in which we can always use the Natural Law
Theory. Using Utilitarian Theory of Ethics is to use in the complexity of situation wherein not everybody in the
society will benefit but the discernment here is for the benefit of the majority. Unlike the Natural Law Theory that
we are looking into the common good, here we are looking of the good of the majority. As we discern the
administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, it seems that in some instances, he is using Utilitarianism approach
to address some major issues in our society.

TOPIC : Ethics of Utilitarianism

HOURS : 3 1/2 hours

LEARNING 1. Discuss the basic and significant features of the ethics of utilitarianism;
OUTCOMES
2. Assess critically the strengths and weaknesses of utilitarian ethics;

3. Apply the utilitarian concepts and principles to the analysis of various ethical issues in
contemporary Philippine situation.
TEACHING- :
LEARNING
ACTIVITIES

1. Cooperative Group Learning: Each group will provide a short explanation on each topic.
a. A Consequentialist Morality
b. Ethical Hedonism
c. The Principle of Utility
d. The Greatest Good for the Greatest Number
e. Bentham’s Hedonistic Calculus

2. Article Analysis - Each group will dissect article and commentary on “THE (IM)MORAL JUSTIFICATIONS OF
DUTERTE’S ANTI-DRUG WAR (Fernandez, pp. 135-137). Each group will come up with their moral
evaluation on the issue.

Processing: (Adapted from Gallinero, Ethics 20018:87-90)

Jeremy Bentham is also known as the founder of utilitarianism. He was born in 1748 in London, to a
father who was a prosperous lawyer at that time. He was sent to school at the age of seven in Westminster School,
then graduated from the Queen’s College, Oxford at fifteen. He was expected to follow in his father’s footstep as a
lawyer but he did not. His famous works related to moral philosophy are: Introduction to Principles of Morals and
Legislation and A Fragment on government. What led to him to believe in the theory of utility is after he read the book
of David Hume on the Treatise of Human Nature. Now what framework should we use in making an ethical decision?
The third ethical framework you will be introduced is the utilitarianism of Jeremy Bentham. This framework focuses
on happiness as the barometer of right morality through the calculation of more pleasure produced over pain.

Origins and Nature of Theory

You are familiar with our great national heroes Dr.Jose Rizal and Andres Bonifacio. We have learnt
from our history subjects that they did not die for nothing, but offered their lives for igniting the spirit of liberty and
independence among their fellow Filipinos. It was done by the followers of Jesus Christ, their master and teacher,
who died on the cross as an offering for the forgiveness of mankind’s sins and their salvation. The point of their
deaths is clear: for the sake of the people’s liberty, independence and forgiveness of their sins. They have their end
or telos in offering their lives.
The theory of utilitarianism, sometimes called consequentialism, focuses on the effect of a particular
end or telos called happiness. The first who proposed the idea is David Hume, a philosopher during the modern
period, but the ones who have made the idea more depth and made it more profound were: Jeremy Bentham and
John Stuart Mill. It is enough for us to deal Jeremy Bentham and his classical utilitarianism. He is also considered as
the founder of utilitarianism. The classical version of utilitarianism as formulated by Bentham can be summed up into
three points.
First is, the basis for an act to be treated as morally right or wrong is in its consequence they
produced. It is known as consequentialism. What is there in the Consequence that makes it morally right? It is only
when there is the presence of happiness. In short, happiness is the key in determining the morality of the act. It is the
end of every telos of every act, that is, to produce happiness.
The second point is, what matters in every act that we do would be the amount of pleasure
produced. One must not forget the element of happiness in assessing the morality of an act. If there is no pleasure
yielded, then the act is morally wrong. Happiness is comparative, that is, there will be great happiness, greater
happiness and greatest happiness. Likewise, there will also be great pain, greater pain and the greatest pain. If there
are multiple acts that can produce a variety and different degrees of happiness, which is act is right? In the theory of
utility of Bentham, the greatest happiness produced should be chosen over the others. How do we determine the
greatest happiness over the other greater and great happiness? Bentham uses the felicific (or hedonic) calculus, a
method that can calculate or measure happiness and pain.
The third point, which is the happiness experienced by every person is counted the same. It means
that every person’s happiness is taken into account and no one is left behind. How are we going to use such
method? Bentham is a hedonist and he understands happiness as pleasure. This pleasure has a partner, which is
pain. He believes that the world is governed by these two principles. It follows that human beings are inclined more
on achieving happiness and as much as possible avoid what is painful. Now to measure happiness or pleasure, all
we need is to do is to count all the happiness or pleasure that an act brings minus the amount of pain that an act will
also bring. If the amount of happiness or pleasure is greater than pain, then the act is good.

(amount of pleasure – amount of pain = moral or immoral act )

Furthermore, one has to consider in assessing an act the following factors.

1).Happiness/pleasure should be more intense. 2). Happiness/pleasure should last longer 3). Happiness/pleasure
should be more certain to occur. 4). Happiness/pleasure should be happening sooner rather than later.
5).Happiness/Pleasure will produce in turn many happiness and few pains. 6). Lastly, in determining the amount of
happiness/pleasure, one has to consider how many people affected positively, that is, greatest happiness for the
greatest number of people, and fewer affected negatively.
Thus, right actions are those that produce the greatest possible balance of happiness over
unhappiness, with each person’s happiness counted as equally important. (We speak of right action is determined by
the result of the act. In Thomistic ethics, moral act is determined by right action.) The downside of the felicific
(hedonic) calculus is not in the method per se. It is in the assignment of the object being measured. There are objects
easily measured since they are concrete, but how about those objects that are immeasurable such as love and
friendship? For sure there is no apparatus intended to measure them.

Browse this web links for more significant information on Utilitarianism.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-a739VjqdSI

https://www.google.com/search?
q=utilitarianism&oq=Utilitaria&aqs=chrome.0.0j69i57j0l6.3670j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UT
F-8

Synthesis: Bentham and Mill see moral good as pleasure, not merely self-gratification, but also the greatest
happiness principle or the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people.

REFLECTION : Make a list of particular pursuits and activities that give specific pleasure or happiness to
the mind/spirit/intellect. Describe the experience and compare them with the pleasures
that you get from the pursuit of bodily/physical activities. Which ones are “more
pleasurable”?

ASSESSMENTS :
1. CGL Output
2. Article Analysis (CGL)
3. Cite one issue in the Philippine context wherein you have to apply the main Utilitarian concept, “The greatest
good for the greatest number of people”. Make a juxtaposition on the issue.
One utilitarian issue in the Philippine context is about democracy. From our form of rulings itself which is democracy
which basically means the form of government in which political control is exercised by all the people, either directly
or through their elected representatives. The word democracy itself means rule by the people. This means that the
persons that were given the position should be the voices of the people. Utilitarianism comes to place because they
were elected for the good of everyone. It is the people itself that were given the ability to decide, then the elected are
the ones who will make and implement the law that they think is the best for all.
4. Objective Quiz: Write the letter of the correct answer.

1. It is a scheme proposed by Bentham in order to determine morality by measuring the exact amount of
pleasure and pain, happiness and unhappiness.
a. Hedons b. Utility c. Hedonic Calculus d. Consequentialism
2. Utilitarianism is an ethical theory which puts primary consideration and emphasis on the effects or results
that an act or conduct brings rather than on the motive or intention that the agent may have.
a. Hedons b. Utility c. Hedonic Calculus d. Consequentialism
3. He is considered as the founder of Utilitarianism who coined the phrase “principle of utility”. Bentham
a. John Stuart Mill b. Jeremy Bentham c. David Hume d. Immanuel Kant
4. The term _______ is usually equated with pleasure or happiness, which the utilitarians consider as the only
objective moral standard.
a. Hedons b. Utility c. Hedonic Calculus d. Consequentialism
5. It is a Greek term which means pleasure.
a. Hedons b. Utility c. Hedonic Calculus d. Consequentialism
6. He is a student of Jeremy Bentham who is considered as one of the founders of Utilitarian Theory.
a. John Stuart Mill b. Jeremy Bentham c. David Hume d. Immanuel Kant
7. He proposes that the greatest happiness of the greatest number is the top priority over individual
happiness.
a. John Stuart Mill b. David Hume c. Jeremy Bentham d. Immanuel Kant
8. He introduces a way of determining pleasure that is not just confined to quantity or amount but more on its
quality, that is, pleasures of the mind or the spirit are higher than pleasures of the flesh and of the body.
a. Immanuel Kant b. David Hume c. Jeremy Bentham d. John Stuart Mill
9. It is a type of pleasure which illustrates, “It is better to be human being dissatisfied than a pig satisfied:
better to be Socrates dissatisfied than a food satisfied.”
a. Utility b. Quality c. Quantity d. Happiness
10. The theory of utilitarianism focuses on the effect of a particular end or telos called ______________.
a. Utility b. Quality c. Quantity d. Happiness

ASSIGNMENTS :

1. Apply the Hedonic Calculus on the issue of “Absolute Divorce” in the Philippine context. Would you say that,
based on the result of your hedonic calculation, there are more advantages (benefits/gains/pleasures/
happiness) than disadvantages (unhappiness/pain/discomfort) if divorce is legalized in the country?
Hedonic Calculus – ABSOLUTE DIVORCE
Advantages –
 You get the chance to relax.
 You get your freedom.
 You can realize your dreams.
 You get your happiness back.
 The person is not right for you.
 There is always a person for you.
 You get to love yourself.
 You reunite with your friends.
 It can lead to Happiness
 Your Finances May Be Better in the Long Run
 Your Kids May be Better Off
 Your Next Marriage is More Likely to Be a Success
 Disadvantages –

 Divorce ends your marriage

 Divorce costs money
 Divorce hurts
 Divorce reduces living standards
 Divorce changes personal relationships
 Divorce may strain your relationship with your church or synagogue
 Divorce hurts children
 Divorce is bad for your health

So based on the advantages and disadvantages of divorce, there are more likely positive attributes than negative
when it comes to divorce. But as we can see, it is not very easy to divorce, especially if we treat the person our whole
life. And even if they were abusive, still it is not easy to break up with them, especially if you have kids already. It may
cause them a lifetime damage within themselves. But, if it is much safer and must be good to you and your
household to just end things off, with you childrens approval, then I think there’s nothing wrong with it.

2. Write a personal reflection on the question: “As a student, what can I do to contribute to the Common Good”?

As a student, the things that I can do to contribute for the common is that I need to study well and focus on being
good, and also to follow the rules and regulations. Following what is implemented is an act of obedience to the law,
and the law means it is a law that serves as a good thing for the people. By simply doing this, I will not cause chaos
within my surrounding and is able to contribute to the common good.

RESOURCES: Fernandez, Apolinar, et. al. 2018. Ethics: Deciding What’s Right and Wrong. SMKC
Printshoppe. Davao City.
Gallinero, Winston, et. al. 2018. Ethics. Mutya Publishing House, Inc. Malabon City.
Ocampo, Ma. Liza Ruth. 2018. Ethics Primer: A Young Person’s Guide to Moral
Reasoning. Vibal Group, Inc. Davao City.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-a739VjqdSI

https://www.google.com/search?
q=utilitarianism&oq=Utilitaria&aqs=chrome.0.0j69i57j0l6.3670j0j7&sour
ceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8