"If, while regarding pleasure as the only good, I also try to obtain the maximum pleasure for someone else- and not just for myself, which would be blatant egoism- then I put a value on the pleasure of this other person only in so far as it gives pleasure to me: it gives me pleasure, that someone else is experiencing pleasure. If, however, I case to experience pleasure , or it does not tally with my 'calculus of happiness'- (a term often used by utilitarians) then the pleasure of the other person ceases to be my obligation, a good for me, and may even become something positively bad. I shall then- true to the principles of utilitarianism- seek to eliminate the other person's pleasure because no pleasure for me is any longer bound up with it- or at any rate the other person's pleasure will become a matter of indifference to me and I shall not concern myself with it." (italics added)
WOAH! Right? I mean, talk about crazy! That IS the situation of most relationships and "marriages" in the U.S. and most other Western countries. This struck me particularly in contrast with a wedding I just attended for a childhood friend. Her pastor outright told her and her husband-to-be that their marriage would only work if they put each other first. He knew, he'd been married for thirtysomething years. I have great hope for them as a strong Christian couple and pray that they take his advice. But I know this isn't the case for most people.
It breaks my heart to think that this utilitarian ideology has so permeated our society that marriage is reduced to an institution merely for pleasure and convenience. Having been taught all my life what marriage really is, and what it is supposed to accomplish, the more I think about how things are today the more I am revolted. But more than revolted, I am in anguish for those people, those souls, who don't know the truth.
I guess all I can do is pray for more grace for them so that in some way I can share in the struggle.
Tiri, I love this! What a thoughtful post, and what a powerful insight from Wojtyla. He shure knowd whut he waz talkin bout.
ReplyDeleteWhoa dang Sister. I like the quote, it's a good jumping off point for your thoughts. Keep on postin'!
ReplyDeleteFor a second, before I realized that the person posting was my brother, I was like "Who are you callin' sistah?" I am s-m-r-t.
ReplyDeleteEh - I think whoever wrote your quote misinterpreted the theory of utilitarianism to mean the greatest happiness for the individual applying the theory.
ReplyDeleteCause as John Stuart Mill (one of the two dudes credited with popularizing the theory) argued in 1879:
"The happiness which forms the utilitarian standard of what is right in conduct, is not the agent's own happiness, but that of all concerned. As between his own happiness and that of others, utilitarianism requires him to be as strictly impartial as that of a disinterested and benevolent spectator."
Which is actually a pretty sound concept - but obviously not being played out in your example. However, in your example you cite a proliferation of utilitarianism ethics into society (which are not being interpreted correctly as it is) as a leading reason for failed marriages due to their existence as a means to pleasure and convenience.
Except it would appear that the interpretation of marriage as a convenience doesn't stop at the doorstep of strictly the utilitarians.
http://bit.ly/bTpU4R
Unless you mean that (wrongly interpreted) 'me-and-only-me-first' Utilitarianism has warped and corrupted minds of all humans regardless of differing religious and ethical beliefs... Which is something pretty sad to think about.
I JUST NEED SOMETHING TO DO INSTEAD OF MY HOMEWORK.
Did you read anymore of the book??? WHY WAS THIS LIKE A MONTH AGOOOooOoo WHERE are THE REST OF YOUr tHOUGHTSS?1?1??!?!
Haha, well, you just said that you think the former pope is wrong, which is kind of funny.
ReplyDeleteI don't know exactly why he was interpreting utilitarianism this way but if I had to guess I would say that he was more making observations on the effects of the application utilitarian principles, even the one you cited, on society. This is more a critique of modern western culture. Although his definition of utilitarianism looks more like the "me-and-only-me-first" concept you talked about, his reason for that is probably a good one. After all, he was the pope, a brilliant theologian and extremely well educated.
I thought your link about marriages was sad, but it didn't disprove any of my points.
I will try to post more!!! Ok!?!
Pew pew pew pew pew pew pew!!
ReplyDeleteThe pope is an ex-pope!! and he probably is too busy to worry about being called wrong anymore
I WOUld ARGuEe that you totally can't use "his reason must have been a good one, because he was the pope" cause that is like saying "His Policies must be good! he was the president!!" cause "positions don't define individuals"!! Woo ethics class!!!
YoureEee in individual!
HA! OUCHBURNNnnn -
uhhh YEAH!! the link totally was sad!! I thought it totally disproved the point where you were like "utilitarian ideology has so permeated our society that marriage is reduced to an institution merely for pleasure and convenience" because Utilitarians are noobs. And Utilitarianism is like "Hey I smell bad and its not worth taking a shower because that won't make me happy"
Oh ha - yeah that's not what I was saying at all - what I was REALLY saying - is that the degradation of Marriage can't/shouldn't be attributed to the utilitarian ethics because even people who are supposed to be subscribing to religiously guided ethics are totally like "were noobing this up too!!!" - but then I conceded that maybe what you were saying is that the religious people are also noobs and thats why I was like "BUT MAYBE ITS EVERYONE"
RE-READING YOUR ORIGINAL QUOTE THOUGH I think the more important idea isn't whether or not the concept of Utilitarianism is being used wrong - but that it is totally sad that the situation does exist where people are like "HEY I AM NOT HAPPY SO I MUST MAKE YOU NOT HAPPY ALSO BECAUSE IF YOU ARE HAPPY IT MAKES ME FEEL ... EXTRAAAAA SADDD and THAT IS NOT COOL"
SO TWO THUMBS UP TO THIS BLOG POST!