Compare Bantham’s Idea of Ethics with Aristotle.

WHAT IS ETHICS?

Come from the Greek’s word Ethos, which means

“character”.

Dealing with human morality, such as good and evil, right

and wrong, virtue.

ARISTOTLE

384-322 B.C.E

Born in Stagira in North Greece

He was sent to Athens to study philosophy with

Plato in 367 B.C.E

Tutor of Alexander the Great

Aristotle started his own school in Athens, called

the Lyceum

ARISTOTLE’S ETHICS

 Ethics starts with actual moral judgments before

the formulation of general principles.

Find the ultimate purpose of human life.

 Is an attempt to find out our chief end or highest

good : an end which he maintains is really final.

Happiness must be based on human nature and

must begin from the facts of personal experience.

CONT…

Eudemonistic ethics

Living well and doing well in the world.

Happiness is the end of the life which all peoples

aims.

Focusing on being succesfull.

CONT…

Aristotle distinguishes between happiness (eudaemonia) and moral

virtue: 

Moral virtue is not the end of life for it can go with inactivity, misery,

and unhappiness.

Happiness, the end of life, that to which all aims, is activity in

accordance with reason (reason is the arete or peculiar excellence of

persons).

Happiness is an activity involving both moral and intellectual arete.

Some external goods are necessary in order to exercise that activity.

CONT…

Pleasure is the natural accompaniment of unimpeded activity.

Pleasure, as such, is neither good nor bad.

Even so, pleasure is something positive and its effect is to perfect

the exercise of activity. Everything from playing chess to making

love is improved with skill.

Pleasure cannot be directly sought--it is the side-product of activity.

It is only an element of happiness.

The good person, the one who has attained eudaemonia, is the

standard as to what is truly pleasant or unpleasant.

ARISTOTLE’S QUOTESHappiness

CONT…Pleasure

CONT…

JEREMY BENTHAM

1748-1832

 British philosopher, jurist, social reformer, political

radical

Leading theorist in Anglo-American philosophy of law

Founder of modern utilitarianism

His secretary and collaborator James Mill

Tutor of John Stuart Mill (James Mill’s son)

JEREMY BENTHAM’S ETHICS

Principle of utilitarianism, which evaluates actions based

upon their consequences

The relevant consequences, in particular, are the overall

happiness created for everyone affected by the action

The greatest happiness principle

Universal egoism

The artificial identification of one’s interests with those of

others

WHAT IS UTILITARIANISM?

Ethical system around the idea of pleasure

Ancient hedonism which pursued physical pleasure

and avoided physical pain

Maximize pleasure and minimize pain

His utility’s principal sometimes been called the

“utilitarian calculus”

Greatest happiness of the greater number.

HIS FAMOUS QUOTES

Happiness

CONT…

“By the principle of utility is meant that principle

which approves or disapproves 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:

or, what is the same thing in other words, to promote

or to oppose that happiness.”

CONT…Pain and Pleasure“Nature has placed mankind under the governance of two

sovereign masters, pain and pleasure. It is for them alone to

point out what we ought to do, as well as to determine what we

shall do. On the one hand the standard of right and wrong, on

the other the chain of causes and effects, are fastened to their

throne. They govern us in all we do, in all we say, in all we

think: every effort we can make to throw off our subjection, will

serve but to demonstrate and confirm it”.

SUMMARY

Similarities

They aim for the happiness in life as the final end.

They both focus on rational activity, or reasoning,

as the key component in what makes a good life for a

human being.

They believe the importance of the state.

SUMMARY

Differences

Happiness must be based on human nature and

must begin from the facts of personal experience.

(Aristotle)

The greatest happiness of the greatest number.

(Bentham)

SUMMARY…

Differences

 In order to be happy, one must live a fully human

live by living life according to reason. (Aristotle)

In order to be happy, one must live life with the

intent of increasing the overall happiness of

everyone, or increasing the amount of pleasure.

(Bentham)

SUMMARY

Differences

Pleasure is the natural accompaniment of unimpeded

activity. (Aristotle)

The aim of the wise is not secure pleasure, is avoid pain.

(Aristotle)

Maximize pleasure and minimize pain. (Bentham)

Perspective pleasure and pain are absolutely essential in

finding out one’s happiness. (Bentham)

THE END