Guest Essay: Moral Psychology and Utilitarianism

As an abstract ideal, utilitarianism may sound like simple common sense. But utilitarianism has some implications that are counterintuitive. This essay explores how psychological biases can explain anti-utilitarian intuitions. ---Outline:(01:20) Deviations from Impartiality(04:25) Deviations from Maximization(08:03) Deviations from Consequentialism(15:50) Deviations from Aggregate Welfarism(21:12) Normative Implications(28:08) Practical Implications(29:10) About the Authors The original text contained 123 footnotes which were omitted from this narration. --- First published: September 1st, 2024 Source: https://www.utilitarianism.net/guest-essays/moral-psychology --- Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO.