Hedonistic calculation simply explained
Many people are familiar with the term hedonism, but what a hedonistic calculus is may not be known to many. Find out more about the term and how it came about.
Hedonistic calculation - origin of the term
The term hedonistic calculus was coined by the English philosopher Jeremy Bentham. Century.
- He belonged to the school of the utilitarians - those were the philosophers who held the view that every person should act in such a way that the happiness of all would be greatest.
- Jeremy Bentham has now developed his hedonistic calculus as part of this school of thought, with the aim of evaluating actions based on whether they increase satisfaction and decrease uncomfortable conditions such as pain and are therefore considered desirable and useful.
Aspects of the term hedonistic calculus
- Bentham believed that the degree of satisfaction from an action could be measured by the factors of duration, intensity, timeliness, and the likelihood of it occurring. The greater these values, the more satisfying the experience and the more useful the action that led to it.
- In addition, Bentham also assessed an action according to whether it was not just one satisfaction generated, but this satisfaction leads to further - he assessed such an action as fruitful.
- In addition, an act should not cause any pain if possible in order to be viewed as ethically valuable and pure.
- He also considered it important how many people would experience this satisfaction.
Jeremy Bentham - The principle of usefulness easily explained
Utilitarianism is colloquially called the principle of usefulness. …
Hedonistic calculation in practice
- Bentham now believed he could calculate how useful or valuable certain actions are to society by performing the original and consequent satisfaction for the affected individuals added and possibly resulting pain withdrew.
- This calculation should then show exactly which actions are useful for the community and which are not. His idea was to use his hedonistic calculation and its calculations as a basis for legislation.
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