> Utilitarianism as the moral mechanism of social policy
Is this a quotation? A phrase from a particular work? Could you share the context?
I do not accept that utilitarianism is "the" moral mechanism of social policy. Yes, many economists use utility maximization in their analyses, but there is a diversity of thought around many things, such as (but not limited to):
(a) what should utility include;
(b) the functional form of utility (the sum/average? the minimum? something else?); and
(c) to what extent reductionist theories of happiness/contentment/whatever are useful tools given that humans exist interdependently, with biological, tribal, social, and intellectual connections.
There is a whole field of thought that digs into these variations.
Is this a quotation? A phrase from a particular work? Could you share the context?
I do not accept that utilitarianism is "the" moral mechanism of social policy. Yes, many economists use utility maximization in their analyses, but there is a diversity of thought around many things, such as (but not limited to):
(a) what should utility include;
(b) the functional form of utility (the sum/average? the minimum? something else?); and
(c) to what extent reductionist theories of happiness/contentment/whatever are useful tools given that humans exist interdependently, with biological, tribal, social, and intellectual connections.
There is a whole field of thought that digs into these variations.