Does communism use utilitarianism?

[ComradeRed]

I was talking to a friend, and she said the only reason why she is against communism is because it uses utilitarianism (try to make the greatest number of people happy). I did not know if it was true or not, because I never really thought about it; what do you think?

[Pawn Power]

ask your friend why she doesent want to make the greatest number of people happy?

[BuyOurEverything]

Yes, it's basically true. What's wrong with that? Also, Adam Smith advocated capitalism as a utilitarian system. Most systems are utilitarian, at least at face value.

[ComradeRed]

she is buddhist and the philosophy of her buddhism is to make everyone happy, individual by individual. That is her only main objection.

[BuyOurEverything]

Your friends obviously does not understand utilitarianism. Or communism for that matter. What ethical system does she propose using instead of utilitarianism?

[ComradeRed]

By attaing the absolute happiness of every individual, which will guerantee world peace. She wants everyone to become happy.

[peaccenicked]

Happiness is too vague a concept to fit in with communist theory.
In one sense we are for universal happness but that is dependent on whether freedom truly exists or not. Freedom itself is no guarantee of happiness, it is merely a condition of life. Relatives will still die, painful accidents will still occur.
The happiness we woud seek is in the notion that all are free.
Then we also criticise happiness if it is based on unfreedom. Bomb happiness is not useful to us who want to see universal disarmnament.
If the majority are happy to be wage slaves, it might be because they dont know any better. The slogan 'ignorance is bliss' is probably the most philistine saying on earth.
However, once one has done a check list on what is emotionally acceptable and not, there might be happiness generated by the sheer act of contemplation.
Contemplation according to Aristotle is the highest form of happiness.
However in order to relax sometimes, it is better just to tune out completely.

[BuyOurEverything]

By attaing the absolute happiness of every individual, which will guerantee world peace. She wants everyone to become happy.

Ya? And how the fuck does she propose to go about doing that? According to utilitarianism, if you can make everyone happy, you should, but if you can't, you should go for 'the greatest amount of good for the greatest amount of people.'

[Fidelbrand]

So...... is like..... communism can't achieve happiness for all people?

Well, i would say that she first holds a presumptous view that communism makes people unhappy because they practice utilitarianism. But the thing is that communism eradicates those evil-playthings of capitalism that enables people to feel the true meaning of happiness, brotherhood, humane love and concerns and respects----> In short, a spiritual and materialistic contentment. Now that's true happiness. So, in conclusion, be it utilitarianism or what ....... fullblown happiness for all people is possible under communism.

Tell her to jump out of the reality, and scrutinise the reality, instead of letting the present reality leave "marks" in her philosophizing, actually... this is something about Buddhism too.

[Pawn Power]

Originally posted by [email protected] 11 2004, 05:40 AM
Yes, it's basically true. What's wrong with that? Also, Adam Smith advocated capitalism as a utilitarian system. Most systems are utilitarian, at least at face value.

how can capitalism make eveyone happy, people have to be subjected to low paying jobs and must work tent times as hard as the rulling class for one tenth the pay.

[dark fairy]

your friend could be right in a way because with communism you make up for all that money you don't have by the way of life you live... depending on how it's working whether or not it is pure communism or not and a bunch of other aspects but the way of life makes up for a bunch of things ... people are happy and worry free as a whole the country might be better... :) :unsure:

[BuyOurEverything]

how can capitalism make eveyone happy, people have to be subjected to low paying jobs and must work tent times as hard as the rulling class for one tenth the pay.

If you work hard and are a god fear 'merican the 'invisible hand of the free market' will provide.

Seriously though, Smith thought that the laws of supply and demand would regulate the market and that capitalism would inevitably provide the most amount of good for the greatest ammount of people.