GUIDE TO THE PHILOSOPHY 1938 - 1947.pdf - Rare Books at ...

OBJECTIVE UTILITARIANISM 3*7
of any action. Indeed, the total consequences of an action
will presumably extend indefinitely into the future. It
is therefore impossible that we should know in regard to
any particular action whether it is absolutely and certainly
right, since among those consequences of the action which
have not yet been ascertained, or which have yet to occur*
there may be consequences of such a kind as to necessitate
a modification of any judgment which might be passed on
the basis of existing information with regard to the action*.
of actions and not
Thirdly, it is the actual consequences
their intended consequences which Bentham considers
to be relevant to the judgment of their worth. Bentham is
not always consistent on this point, yet his general view
is sufficiently clear. It is that the actual concrete results
of actions in terms of their effects upon individuals are
what the legislator is required to take into account in
deciding what kinds of conduct to encourage by his laws.
This insistence upon the effects of actions upon the wellbeing
of individuals constitutes Bentham's most distiqctive
contribution to ethical theory. Political formulas
and ideals have no meaning for Bentham except in terms
of their effects upon individuals.
Bentham's Account of Virtue. What account does
this theory enable Bentham to give of what is commonly
called virtue? Virtue is, for him, simply the habit of
endeavouring to secure happiness, whether for ourselves
or for others and for Bentham, as I show below, 1 there
is in the long run no difference between what will promote
the greatest happiness of ourselves and the greatest happiness
of others by means of our actions. Hie greater the
effort a man brings to this endeavour and the* more foresight
he shows, the more virtuous will he be. It is our
duty, in other words, according to Bentham, to take
thought as to the probable effects of our actions, and to
do everything we can to ensure that these effects will be
good.
*See pp. 332, 333 bdow.