Depending on how you define ‘philosophical competence’ the results of the PhilPapers survey may be relevant.
The PhilPapers Survey was a survey of professional philosophers and others on their philosophical views, carried out in November 2009. The Survey was taken by 3226 respondents, including 1803 philosophy faculty members and/or PhDs and 829 philosophy graduate students.
Here are the stats for Philosophy Faculty or PhD, All Respondents
Normative ethics: deontology, consequentialism, or virtue ethics?
Other 558 / 1803 (30.9%) Accept or lean toward: consequentialism 435 / 1803 (24.1%) Accept or lean toward: virtue ethics 406 / 1803 (22.5%) Accept or lean toward: deontology 404 / 1803 (22.4%)
And for Philosophy Faculty or PhD, Area of Specialty Normative Ethics
Normative ethics: deontology, consequentialism, or virtue ethics?
Other 80 / 274 (29.1%) Accept or lean toward: deontology 78 / 274 (28.4%) Accept or lean toward: consequentialism 66 / 274 (24%) Accept or lean toward: virtue ethics 50 / 274 (18.2%)
As utilitarianism is a subset of consequentialism it appears you could conclude that utilitarians are a minority in this sample.
Unfortunately the survey doesn’t directly address the main distinction in the original post since utilitarianism and egoism are both forms of consequentialism.
I haven’t seen any stats on that issue. Is there any evidence relating to the topic?
Depending on how you define ‘philosophical competence’ the results of the PhilPapers survey may be relevant.
Here are the stats for Philosophy Faculty or PhD, All Respondents
And for Philosophy Faculty or PhD, Area of Specialty Normative Ethics
As utilitarianism is a subset of consequentialism it appears you could conclude that utilitarians are a minority in this sample.
Thanks! For perspective:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consequentialism#Varieties_of_consequentialism
Unfortunately the survey doesn’t directly address the main distinction in the original post since utilitarianism and egoism are both forms of consequentialism.