Utilitarian's Manual ^hot^ -

To live as a utilitarian, you must stop viewing decisions as "good" or "bad" in isolation. Instead, view them as investments in global well-being. Jeremy Bentham, the father of the movement, suggested we weigh actions based on: How strong is the pleasure or pain? Duration: How long will it last? Certainty: How likely is the result? Propinquity: How soon will it happen?

If you have $50 to spend on a fancy dinner or to buy ten malaria nets that save lives, the manual is clear. The nets provide a massive spike in utility; the steak provides a momentary flicker. utilitarian's manual