Eight ways to break the utilitarian bubble, with Doug Cochran

We're excited to announce our next live workshop, which will be delivered by the excellent Doug Cochran on debating beyond utilitarianism. Please type your questions on the live chat on the side!

Doug Cochran debated in the UK between 2004-2010. Among an extensive list of extraordinary success, in 2013, he served as one of the Chief Adjudicators for the World Universities Debating Championship.

[HeyImAK]

4 ways which are NOT really breaking the utilitarian bubble:


1. don't - 7:50
2. expand the concept of utility - 16:33
3. rule utilitarianism - 21:15
4. win a concession - 26:26


4 ways which are really breaking the utilitarian bubble:


5. question if utility trade-offs between persons are possible - 31:26
6. question if utility trade-offs are permissible – 37:16
7. question if utility trade-offs are aggregable – 44:44
8. question if happiness is the best measure – 49:46

[kurisumakise]

Can someone explain more about the question if utility trade-offs are permissible:
There are certain inalienable rights like bodily autonomy. Where do these rights stem from--intuition. We use intuition in utilitarianism as well, like the intuition to pursue higher levels of utilities than lower levels ones.
This is what I got from the explanation, but it doesn't seem convincing especially since pursuing higher levels of utilities doesn't feel like it stemmed from intuition+How do you engage with rule util+more justifications for inalienable rights

[karenma]

thank you so much for hosting this video. Helped me a lot!