CONSTRUE A MATRIX OF INDIVIDUAL UTILITIES
Alternatives \ Payoffs
John
.Jill.
.Dog.
.Cat.
.Agent
Others
.Total.
Study with Jill at John's
20
30
5
-2
.
.
.
Study with Jill at Jill's
30
25
-5
5
.
.
.
Study alone
15
15
5
5
.
.
.
Go to a concert
35
5
-5
-2
.
.
.
See a movie
25
5
-5
-2
.
.
.
Sleep whole day
8
7
5
5
.
.
.
1st STEP
Determine who is the agent in a given situation. Assume that the agent is the person who makes all the crucial decisions about which alternative course of action to pursue. Determine the utility of each alternative for the agent. If we assume that John is the agent making the choices, the matrix will look as follows:
Alternatives \ Payoffs
John
.Jill.
.Dog.
.Cat.
.Agent
Others
.Total.
Study with Jill at John's
20
30
5
-2
20
.
.
Study with Jill at Jill's
30
25
-5
5
30
.
.
Study alone
15
15
5
5
15
.
.
Go to a concert
35
5
-5
-2
35
.
.
See a movie
25
5
-5
-2
25
.
.
Sleep whole day
8
7
5
5
8
.
.
2nd STEP
Determine who else (in addition to the agent) is affected by the outcomes of each alternative action. Calculate the utility for these individuals. If we assume that John is the agent, then Jill, Dog, and Cat will count as "others." Their utilities are displayed in the following matrix:
Alternatives \ Payoffs
John
.Jill.
.Dog.
.Cat.
.Agent
Others
.Total.
Study with Jill at John's
20
30
5
-2
20
33
.
Study with Jill at Jill's
30
25
-5
5
30
25
.
Study alone
15
15
5
5
15
25
.
Go to a concert
35
5
-5
-2
35
-2
.
See a movie
25
5
-5
-2
25
-2
.
Sleep whole day
8
7
5
5
8
17
.
3rd STEP
Determine (calculate) the total (or social) utility of each alternative. These utilities are displayed in the following matrix:
Alternatives \ Payoffs
John
.Jill.
.Dog.
.Cat.
.Agent
Others
.Total.
Study with Jill at John's
20
30
5
-2
20
33
53
Study with Jill at Jill's
30
25
-5
5
30
25
55
Study alone
15
15
5
5
15
25
40
Go to a concert
35
5
-5
-2
35
-2
33
See a movie
25
5
-5
-2
25
-2
23
Sleep whole day
8
7
5
5
8
17
25
4th STEP
Determine what each of the consequentialist principles requires in a given situation
Alternatives \ Payoffs
John
.Jill.
.Dog.
.Cat.
.Agent
Others
.Total.
Study with Jill at John's
20
30
5
-2
20
33
53
Study with Jill at Jill's
30
25
-5
5
30
25
55
Study alone
15
15
5
5
15
25
.40
Go to a concert
35
5
-5
-2
35
-2
33
See a movie
25
5
-5
-2
25
-2
23
===> Sleep whole day
8
7
5
5
8
17
25
MAIN KINDS OF CONSEQUENTIALISM
ETHICAL EGOISM (EE): An act, A, is morally right if and only if A is in the best interest of the agent (the person who performs this act).UTILITARIANISM (U): An act, A, is morally right if and only if A maximizes social utility (i.e. the utility of all) (there must be no alternative the agent can do that has higher utility).
Utility of an act: how good (bad) are consequences of this act.RADICAL ETHICAL ALTRUISM (REA): An act, A, is morally right if and only if this act is in the best interest of people other than the agent.
SOME OTHER CONSEQUENTIALIST PRINCIPLES
EGALITARIANISM (A CONSEQUENTIALIST VERSION): Goods, harms, benefits, burdens and so on ought to be distributed equally.PARETO PRINCIPLE: It is always right to redistribute the goods in such a way that at least some individuals benefit and no one is harmed.