Philosophy concepts and applications

Utilitarianism Philosophy

The philosophy of utilitarianism, that is, the pursuit for happiness and satisfaction of the society, is an ideology that emerged in the 19th century, where the emergence of Industrial Revolution has led to the development of a capitalist society. A capitalist society subsists to the belief that society pursues an equal allocation of the basic needs and wants of people, and this belief developed as a result of the improvement of production of goods and services with the invention of machines, making production and manufacturing easier and faster. In line with this argument, it is indeed characteristics for a capitalist ideology that is utilitarianism to subsist to the belief that the supreme end of human behavior and action must be motivated to the achievement of the happiness and satisfaction for all (society).

In John Sparks' If Men Were Free to Try, the argument that a society that believes in free enterprise and market of ideas and products should not be intervened by the government. For Sparks, "continued progress... rests squarely upon a better understanding of the idea of individual freedom of choices and action, with personal responsibility..." Indeed, progress is an important concept in utilitarianism as a philosophical ideology and capitalism as the economic ideology in the onset of the 20th century. Progress is considered vital to capitalism because it allows people to have free exchange and marketing of, not only products and services, but ideas as well, wherein new discoveries that can lead to better living conditions in human society are formulated and developed. While free market of ideas leads to progress, the main thrust of utilitarian philosophy, is considered an advantage towards progress, government intervention, on the other hand, is considered otherwise. Sparks argue that government intervention inhibits individuals to freely exchange their ideas with other people, where "fantastic accomplishments" like technological innovations that society enjoys today are developed and harnesses constantly by people who enjoy "free, uninhibited, creative thinking." Sparks' discussion and analysis, in sum, look at the essence of individualism as a vital element and precursor to social progress among capitalist societies.

Dale Haywood in Self-interest at Work elaborates further on Sparks' discussion of utilitarianism and its role in a capitalist society. While Sparks centered his discussion on society mediated by individuals (people in general) and how a free market for ideas leads to progress, Haywood focuses his discussion on an economic perspective of utilitarianism and capitalism in society. Similar to Sparks, Haywood also asserts that "self-interest of human beings" leads to a "free enterprise system," wherein the constant threat of competition among individuals and organizations in the society lead to the development of better ideas, thus resulting to better goods and services for the society. This is exemplified in the case study on the MacGregor Yacht Corporation, where the proprietors (the MacGregors) have to "repeatedly [sic] come up with new products... cost-cutting techniques" in order to attain economic progress. Furthermore, exercising a free enterprise system within the society also opens the door for organization, where members of the society have specific roles to accomplish for the continued progress of the society, which is also called the division of labor (applied in the economic perspective). Competition and division of labor are the factors that determine the functionality of a capitalist society, which directly contrasts central planning, which "stifles the self-interest motive." Thus, like Sparks, Haywood illustrates in his discussion the benefits that come in subsisting to a utilitarian (and capitalist) form of society -- freedom and uncertainty, leading to the developmental progress of human society.