Felicific calculus

Definition

Felicific calculus is a method proposed by Jeremy Bentham to measure the utility or happiness produced by actions, aiming to maximize overall happiness in society. This quantitative approach involves evaluating the consequences of actions based on factors like intensity, duration, certainty, propinquity, fecundity, purity, and extent, allowing for a systematic way to determine the moral worth of different choices.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Felicific calculus focuses on quantifying happiness, using various factors to assess the net pleasure or pain generated by an action.
2. Bentham's method emphasizes measuring not just individual happiness but also the collective welfare of society.
3. Each factor in felicific calculus helps to weigh the benefits and drawbacks of actions in a structured manner.
4. The approach suggests that moral decisions should be made by calculating the overall utility, rather than relying solely on intuition or tradition.
5. Felicific calculus laid the groundwork for later utilitarian thinkers, influencing contemporary discussions on ethics and public policy.

Review Questions

• How does felicific calculus help in determining the moral worth of an action within Bentham's utilitarian framework?
  • Felicific calculus aids in determining the moral worth of an action by providing a systematic method to evaluate its consequences based on various measurable factors. By assessing aspects like intensity, duration, and certainty of pleasure produced, it allows individuals to compare different actions quantitatively. This structured approach aligns with Bentham's utilitarian philosophy, where the primary goal is maximizing overall happiness for society.
• Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of using felicific calculus as a decision-making tool in ethical dilemmas.
  • One strength of felicific calculus is its ability to provide a clear framework for evaluating actions based on their potential outcomes, allowing for more rational decision-making. However, a significant weakness lies in its reliance on quantifying subjective experiences of happiness, which can be difficult to measure accurately. Additionally, it may oversimplify complex moral dilemmas by reducing them to numerical values, potentially neglecting important qualitative factors like rights and justice.
• Evaluate how the concept of felicific calculus can inform modern policy-making processes aimed at enhancing societal well-being.
  • Felicific calculus can significantly inform modern policy-making by emphasizing evidence-based approaches that prioritize actions leading to maximum societal happiness. Policymakers can use this framework to evaluate potential policies by estimating their impacts on community well-being through metrics similar to those in felicific calculus. However, relying solely on this quantitative method may overlook individual rights or ethical considerations that don't easily fit into a calculable framework. Thus, while it offers valuable insights, it should be complemented with other ethical considerations to ensure comprehensive and just policies.

Related terms

Utilitarianism: A philosophical theory that suggests the best action is the one that maximizes overall happiness or utility.

Greatest Happiness Principle: The ethical guideline stating that actions are right if they promote happiness and wrong if they produce the opposite.

Hedonism: The philosophy that pleasure or happiness is the highest good and primary goal of human life.