Utilitarianism:
Theory of Morality, Theory of Life

Utilitarian theory of morality:

"[A]ctions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness." (P 428a)

Utilitarian theory of life:

"[P]leasure, and freedom from pain, are the only things desirable as ends; and ... all desirable things ... are desirable either for the pleasure inherent in themselves, or as a means to the promotion of pleasure and the prevention of pain." (P 428a)

According to the utilitarian theory of life, only the following things are good or desirable or have positive value:


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Richard Lee, rlee@uark.edu, last modified: 1 December 2002