Notes

What are some of the underlying problems with utilitarian philosophy? Page 125 (5)

There is adevastating criticism of his general approach with its emphasis on all possible causes of pleasure being treated equally. Utilitarian philosophy faces significant challenges, notably underscored by Robert Nozick's thought experiment involving the "experience machine." Within Jeremy Bentham's utilitarian framework, which prioritizes actions maximizing overall happiness or pleasure, Nozick's scenario introduces a compelling dilemma. The experience machine offers a life of continuous bliss, yet individuals, according to Nozick, would reject it in favor of real, authentic experiences. This challenges the core utilitarian tenet, suggesting that people value more than just pleasure and happiness. Nozick's critique broadens to question utilitarianism's focus on aggregating happiness without adequate consideration for individual rights, autonomy, and qualitative aspects of well-being. The rejection of the experience machine implies a deep-seated human desire for authenticity, genuine experiences, and a connection to reality, questioning the adequacy of a purely hedonistic approach to ethics within the scope of Bentham's analysis and utilitarian philosophy. this seems to show Bentham was wrong to argue that all ways of bringing about the same amount of pleasure are equally valuable and that not everyone is guided solely by a desire to maximise pleasure and minimise pain . Not all people believe that there is nothing more valuable than a series of blissful states so that is why there is problems with utilitarian philosophy.