Has the invention of the concept of utilitarianism had any significant consequences for the world? If you look at history—events, trends, culture—what are the biggest things of which one can say, that only happened because the idea “utilitarianism” existed, it wouldn’t have happened otherwise?
If you look at history—events, trends, culture—what are the biggest things of which one can say, that only happened because the idea “utilitarianism” existed, it wouldn’t have happened otherwise?
If Jeremy Bentham had not come up with utilitarianism, I don’t think classical liberalism as we know it would exist today. He came up with a remarkable number of what we now consider “right” answers in the social sciences. And he obviously influenced plenty of important folks, including e.g. John Stuart Mill.
If that hadn’t happened, I think other ideas would be more important instead, e.g. natural law and perhaps some vague appeals to egalitarianism.
As a starting point, let’s try: “None. Ideas such as ‘utilitarianism’ only serve to justify actions after the fact, and the actual reasons for these actions are more along the lines of personal gain. People in positions of power who espouse utlitarianism as an ethical theory do so to demonstrate their chosen political affiliation.”
Has the invention of the concept of utilitarianism had any significant consequences for the world? If you look at history—events, trends, culture—what are the biggest things of which one can say, that only happened because the idea “utilitarianism” existed, it wouldn’t have happened otherwise?
If Jeremy Bentham had not come up with utilitarianism, I don’t think classical liberalism as we know it would exist today. He came up with a remarkable number of what we now consider “right” answers in the social sciences. And he obviously influenced plenty of important folks, including e.g. John Stuart Mill.
If that hadn’t happened, I think other ideas would be more important instead, e.g. natural law and perhaps some vague appeals to egalitarianism.
Do you have some specific examples of these?
Utilitarianism as distinct from consequentialism in general? (Can you narrow down exactly what idea you’re asking about?)
The real question is broader—which ideas make a difference, and why.
As a starting point, let’s try: “None. Ideas such as ‘utilitarianism’ only serve to justify actions after the fact, and the actual reasons for these actions are more along the lines of personal gain. People in positions of power who espouse utlitarianism as an ethical theory do so to demonstrate their chosen political affiliation.”
Are there reasons to believe anything different?