What's wrong with utilitarianism?

[UncleWai]

I just realize through out my life I have based my decisions on the principles of utilitarianism.
A lot of times I would sacrifice my own happiness for the better of others.
I am wondering if I should continue to be a nice guy and take all the sh|t to myself.

p.s. I may be an a-hole in ATOT, but in real life I am a really nice guy.

 

[sillymofo]

What's wrong with utilitarianism

That it's hard as hell to pronounce.

Why don't you (and the rest of the a-holes wannabes of ATOT) try to be yourself here as you are in real life?

 

[Xenon14]

Originally posted by: UncleWai
I just realize through out my life I have based my decisions on the principles of utilitarianism.
A lot of times I would sacrifice my own happiness for the better of others.
I am wondering if I should continue to be a nice guy and take all the sh|t to myself.

p.s. I may be an a-hole in ATOT, but in real life I am a really nice guy.

That's not utilitarianism, that's altruism (self-sacrifice). They are both similar b/c they are both stupid. There's nothing wrong with you sacrificing yourself for others, so long as you want to do it. (Donations to charity = self sacrifice = there's nothing wrong with that B/C you want to do it since it makes you feel good). If it doesn't make you feel good, then you're sacrificing your own happiness for other's sake and thus hold other's happiness above your own which means u don't value urself, etc. Utilitarianism (example) = kill all people with aids = majority/healthy people safe from aids = doesn't value individual rights b/c it's concerned with greatest good.

 

[Riprorin]

Originally posted by: UncleWai
I just realize through out my life I have based my decisions on the principles of utilitarianism.
A lot of times I would sacrifice my own happiness for the better of others.
I am wondering if I should continue to be a nice guy and take all the sh|t to myself.

p.s. I may be an a-hole in ATOT, but in real life I am a really nice guy.

If my recollection of utilitarianism is correct, basically given an array of choices, you should always choose the act that you think will yield the best consequences.

If your choices are making you miserable ie. sacrificing your own happiness for the happiness of others, your actions aren't utilitarian at all. Utilitarianism is really self-focused and the only "absolute" is what I described above.

But, I studied Bentham and Mill over 20 years ago so I could be foggy.