PHL275H1 Lecture : Utilitarianism 2
Document Summary
Why we have things like jails in the first place. Because net happiness then cause by him going to jail is the most out of any other punishment. Retributive (particular punishment) and deterrence punishment (practice of punishment) Utilitarianism applies to the act not the practice. Worry: utilitarianism would apply to act level more then a practice level/ Punishing innocent people once in a while who where innocent just to scare people utilitarianism wouldn"t agree with this. There would not be a utilitarian practice: no maximum utility. Living in a society where even innocent get punished: this would not produce the most happiness. Promise keeping: ross (objector to utilitarianism)-> we all want to keep our promises. But we can find and example about why it would produce more happiness if we did not keep promise. Therefore, (mill) it is still of value to break if it produces more happiness (last lecture. X (value of keeping) y (negative value of breaking))
