Legal Definitions - hedonistic utilitarianism

Hedonistic utilitarianism is a moral philosophy that proposes the most ethical action is the one that maximizes overall pleasure and minimizes overall suffering for the greatest number of people. It is a specific form of utilitarianism, which is a broader ethical framework that judges the morality of an action based on its outcome or consequences. In hedonistic utilitarianism, the "good" outcome is specifically defined in terms of pleasure (happiness, enjoyment, satisfaction) and the absence of pain (suffering, discomfort, unhappiness).

Therefore, when faced with a choice, a hedonistic utilitarian would evaluate which option is likely to produce the most net pleasure and the least net pain for all individuals affected by the decision.

• Example 1: Public Health Policy

  A city government is debating whether to allocate a significant portion of its budget to building a new, state-of-the-art hospital wing or to funding a comprehensive city-wide mental health and wellness program that includes free counseling, support groups, and preventative education. A hedonistic utilitarian approach would involve assessing which option would generate the greatest overall happiness and reduce the most suffering for the largest number of citizens. While a new hospital wing might provide critical care for a smaller number of acutely ill individuals, a widespread mental health program could potentially improve the daily well-being, reduce anxiety, and prevent long-term suffering for a much larger segment of the population, leading to a greater net sum of pleasure across the community.

  This example illustrates hedonistic utilitarianism because the decision is based on calculating which policy would produce the most widespread positive emotional and psychological states (pleasure/happiness) and alleviate the most widespread negative states (pain/suffering) for the entire city population.

• Example 2: Corporate Product Development

  A technology company is developing a new social media platform. They have two design options: one that maximizes user engagement through addictive algorithms and constant notifications, potentially leading to increased screen time and mental health issues for some users, but also generating significant advertising revenue. The second option focuses on promoting meaningful connections, limiting notifications, and incorporating features for digital well-being, which might result in less immediate engagement but foster healthier, more positive user experiences. A hedonistic utilitarian perspective would likely favor the second option, even if it means less profit, because it aims to maximize the long-term well-being and minimize the potential for addiction and mental distress (pain) for the greatest number of users, thereby creating more overall pleasure.

  This demonstrates hedonistic utilitarianism by prioritizing the collective long-term happiness and reduced suffering of the user base over short-term engagement metrics or immediate financial gain, seeking the greatest good for the greatest number.

• Example 3: Environmental Resource Allocation

  A national park service is deciding how to manage a specific wilderness area. One option is to allow limited, controlled logging to generate revenue for park maintenance and local employment. Another option is to designate the area as a strict nature preserve, prohibiting logging but allowing for scientific research and passive recreation like hiking and birdwatching. A hedonistic utilitarian analysis would weigh the pleasure and pain generated by each choice. Logging might provide economic benefits (pleasure) for a few, but could cause environmental degradation, loss of biodiversity, and aesthetic displeasure for many more who value the wilderness (pain). Designating it as a preserve might forego some economic gain but could provide widespread enjoyment, mental restoration, and ecological benefits (pleasure) for a larger number of visitors, researchers, and future generations, while avoiding the pain of environmental destruction.

  This example shows hedonistic utilitarianism in action by evaluating which land management strategy would result in the greatest overall sum of positive experiences (enjoyment, ecological health) and the least amount of negative experiences (environmental damage, loss of natural beauty) for all stakeholders, including humans and the ecosystem itself.