The Poverty of Utilitarianism

A series of lectures delivered by Michael Sandel, a Professor of Government at Harvard University, is available on-line at:
http://www.justiceharvard.org/

If you have recently visited bookstores, you might have noticed a book entitled "Justice: What's the right thing to do?" showcased at the very eye-catching corner. That book, also authored by Michael Sandel, covers the same topics in his lectures.

I would recommend disciples of utilitarianism and those who claim themselves "logical" to spend ten minutes or so watching the beginning of Episode 02. Certainly, there are more intuitive concepts and knowledges to explore. It is really thought-provoking!

If you believe in universal human rights, you are probably not a utilitarian.

The above words were excepted from "Justice: What's the right thing to do?" by Michael Sandel.

I just think that people in this world have been overly doctrinated by naive ideas of economics and scientific management. The system sucks as people who are most deeply poisoned are honored as "well educated" and "smart", and are allowed to climb to the uppermost class of societies, awarded with wealth and authority. Injustice and inequality are results of their dogmatic narrow-mindedness and greed.

Listed below are a few meaningful excepts from "Justice" which introduce the principles of morality of Immanuel Kant:

The utilitarian's happiness principle contributes nothing whatever toward establishing morality... Basing morality on interests and preferences destroys its dignity... When we act autonomously, according to a law we give ourselves, we do something for its own sake, as an end in itself. We cease to be instruments of purposes given outside us. This capacity to act autonomously is what gives human life its special dignity. It marks out the difference between persons and things... [R]especting human dignity means treating persons as ends in themselves. This is why it is wrong to use people for the sake of the general welfare, as utilitarianism does.

We, human beings, have dignity and are worthy of respect! To some people, this merely sounds like a political slogan; to some other people, it echoes as savior's voice.