Symposium: Negative utilitarianism

Abstract

Negative utilitarianism is an approach in ethics that focuses on reducing, rather than increasing, the amount of harm and suffering in the world. It takes into account the urgency of addressing suffering and the distinction between inflicting harm and alleviating existing suffering. Unlike Traditional Utilitarianism, adherents of Negative Utilitarianism are not concerned with maximizing happiness, but argue that the reduction of misery is more important than the pursuit of well-being. This emphasis on harm reduction leads to a modified version of the principle of Negative Utilitarianism which prioritizes the alleviation of suffering over the increase of happiness, acknowledging the urgency of aid in certain contexts, such as in cases of pain or distress. – AI-generated abstract