“To what shall the character of utility be ascribed, if not to that which is a source of pleasure?”

– Jeremy Bentham

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Hedonism
   1. The “Evil Pleasures” Objection
   2. The Experience Machine Objection
3. Desire Theories
   1. Bizarre Desires
   2. Changing Preferences
4. Objective List Theories
   1. Is Objective Value “Spooky”?
   2. Alienation
5. Practical Implications of Theories of Well-Being
6. Conclusion
7. Resources and Further Reading
   1. Introduction
   2. Welfarism
   3. Hedonism
   4. Desire Theories
   5. Objective List Theories

Introduction

A core element of utilitarianism is welfarism—the view that only the welfare (also called well-being) of individuals determines how good a particular state of the world is. While consequentialists claim that what is right is to promote the amount of good in the world, welfarists specifically equate the good to be promoted with well-being.

Philosophers use the term “well-being” to refer to what's good for a person, as opposed to what's good per se, or “from the point of view of the Universe” to use Sidgwick's poetic phrase. Utilitarianism holds that well-being is always good from the point of view of the universe, and not just good for the individual. But other views may coherently deny this. For example, one might think that [...]

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Outline:

(00:18) Introduction

(02:29) Hedonism

(05:32) The Evil Pleasures Objection

(08:45) The Experience Machine Objection

(12:34) Desire Theories

(15:29) Bizarre Desires

(16:19) Changing Preferences

(18:10) Objective List Theories

(20:17) Is Objective Value Spooky?

(23:07) Alienation

(24:33) Practical Implications of Theories of Well-Being

(26:08) Conclusion

(27:37) Introduction

(28:42) Welfarism

(29:10) Hedonism

(30:25) Desire Theories

(31:35) Objective List Theories

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