Utilitarianism FIL-ENG-SM>mono3
The students will briefly learn the history of thought that lead to contemporary utilitarianism, starting from its Greek and Christian roots, and the history of utilitarianism including the most influential modern and contemporary thinkers. The metaethical and methodological considerations regarding utilitarianism will be presented as well as its main philosophical assumptions, key notions and distinctive features (as compared to other ethical position including deontology, virtue ethics and non-utilitarian forms of consequentialism). The main divisions among utilitarians will be outlined as well as arguments for and against accepting this position and philosophical critique of utilitarianism (internal and external) accompanied by its possible refutation. Utilitarianism will also be presented as practical ethics including the bioethical considerations, the problem of world’s poverty, animal ethics, future ethics and everyday choices. Utilitarians solutions will be contrasted with the ones coming from different intellectual traditions, including Christian ethics.
1. Introduction. Utilitarianism as a position in Ethics. Utilitarianism and morality. Utilitarianism vs deontology and virtue ethics.
2. The history of consequentialist thinking. Utilitarian and non-utilitarians consequentialism. Utilitarian classics and modern utilitarian thinkers
3. Distinctive features of utilitarianism (Consequentialism, welfarism, impartiality, aggregationism).
4. Who counts morally? What to count? Theories of well-being, population ethics, moral status
5-6 Different utilitarian positions: act and rule utilitarianism, classical utilitarianism (hedonism, total view), preference utilitarianism, maximising utilitarianism, satisfacting utilitarianism, scalar utilitarianism, exceptional utilitarianism, objective utilitarianism, multi-level of utilitarianism and single level utilitarianism, hybrid utilitarian theories
7. Arguments for and against taking utilitarianism as favourite ethical theory
8. Main challenges for solid utilitarian thinking: human nature and uncertainty
9-10. Common philosophical objections to utilitarianism and possible responses
11. Practical applications of utilitarianism: bioethics
12. Practical applications of utilitarianism: effective altruism
13. Practical applications of utilitarianism: duties to animals
14. Practical applications of utilitarianism: everyday choices
15. Summary
Course coordinators
(in Polish) Tryb zajęć
Learning outcomes
Knows deeply the current state of research on utilitarianism (K_W05).
Assessment criteria
Speaking exam
At least 2 weeks before the end of term a date of exam will be determined. During the exam, students will be asked 3 questions related to the knowledge provided during the lecture. The aim of the questions is to check if the students met the course objectives and learning outcomes.
Bibliography
Chappel R. Y., Meissner D., MacAskill W, An Introduction to Utilitarianism. From Theory to Practice, 2024.
Singer P., De Lazari Radek K., Utilitarianism. A very short introduction, 2017.
Notes
|
Term 2026/2027-Z:
For passing this course, a student receives 2 ECTS, which means between 50 and 60 didactic hours of the student's work. This includes 30 hours of working in contact with the teacher during classes and up to 30 hours of independent work (preparing for exam). According to the teachers experience, it is more effective to revise notes during the semester than to attempt to learn everything at once. Each class is connected to previous classes therefore without revising it would be very easy to get lost. Participation in the classes is not required, but it is recommended as the provided literature does not cover all the topics, which are distributed in other sources. Students who would like to deepen their understanding of utilitarian ethics beyond the topics covered in the class or need further clarification should meet the teacher during consultation hours which are displayed on the website of the faculty or contact by email. |
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: