功利主义的苦乐计算法——从边沁到密尔

Utilitarianism and Its Calculation of Pleasure and Pain——From Bentham to Mill

杰里米·边沁(Jeremy Bentham)在他的功利主义理论中提出了苦乐计算法,要求对快乐和痛苦的值进行量的估算,从而较精确地估算出任何一个行动或事件所造成的苦乐倾向,并且最终通过对苦乐估算的结果来让人们选择出能给大多数人带来最大快乐的行动方案,让政府制定出能给大多数人带来最大快乐的政策。但是,他的这一苦乐计算法却遭到了后世一些哲学家们的批评和诘难,自称为边沁继承者的约翰·斯图亚特·密尔(John Stuart Mill)对此进行了一些反驳,并对边沁的苦乐计算进行了局部修改,将只有量的区别的快乐拓展为既有量的区别又有质的区别的快乐,将其粗糙的'快乐'概念进行了精致化的改造,并提出'幸福'是一个比'快乐'更加丰富的概念。但是,密尔在理论上所进行的这些细枝末节的修改并未将边沁的苦乐计算法从众多的批评中解救出来,在实际的估算过程中,功利主义的苦乐计算法仍然面临着实践的困境。

Jeremy Bentham put forward a calculation of pleasure and pain in his utilitarian theory,asking for a quantitative estimation of pleasure and pain,so that pleasure or pain caused by any actions or events can be more accurately estimated. Based on the result,people and government can choose the plan that brings great pleasure to most people. However,this method of calculation of pleasure and pain was criticized by some later philosophers. John Stuart Mill,who claimed to be Bentham’s successor,made modifications to this calculation theory to defend Bentham.He expanded the pleasure of only difference in quantity into the difference in quantity and quality,and refined the rough concept of'pleasure'.'Happiness'proposed by Mill is more abundant than'pleasure.'However,these minor details of Mill’s theoretical modification did not free Bentham’s calculations from numerous criticisms.In the actual estimation process,Bentham’s calculations still face practical problems.