Happy with Utilitarianism? Most Folks Aren't!

Bill Vallicella
Probably on the Right
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Yesterday, as I was looking at Dr. Boli's blog, I saw a joke about "Utilitarianists," to which I added my own joke:

Opinion polls reveal that most people are unhappy with utilitarianism.

The humor hinges upon knowing Jeremy Bentham's "fundamental axiom [of utilitarianism, namely], . . . the greatest happiness of the greatest number . . . is the measure of right and wrong" (A Fragment on Government, London, Preface, 1776, 2nd para.). I was so proud of my joke that I sent notice to my philosophical friend, Bill Vallicella:

Here's a philosophical joke I came up with just this morning:

"Opinion polls reveal that most people are unhappy with utilitarianism."

But some wag must already have coined this piece of witty wisdom . . .

Bill replied:

That's good, Jeff. Variants:

a. Opinion polls reveal that most people are unhappy with eudaimonism.

b. Opinion polls reveal that most people are displeased by hedonism.

Greetings from Arizona . . .

I replied:

Those are good, too.

You see? Philosophy is useful, after all . . .