功利估算的实践困境

功利主义的后果最大化原则要求对行为的功利后果进行计量、估算和比较,但严格意义上的功利估算在实践中却遭遇了困境,这种困境包括功利后果的可公度性与是否可以累加和相互抵消的问题、各种功利后果的明确的量值问题、具体的计算方法和概率的问题、功利后果的复杂性问题等。以边沁为代表的古典功利主义的探讨和论证没有真正解决这些问题,现代功利主义将行为或制度的客观效果而非主体的感性体验作为功利估算的对象,为功利主义走出困境提供了启示。功利估算走出困境的可能性在于一方面要扩大评价的信息基础,另一方面要诉诸人的理性能力和人的道德直觉、价值偏好等非理性能力所构成的综合评价标准。

The Practical Dilemma of Utility Estimation

Consequence-maximizing principle of utilitarianism requires calculating, estimating and comparing the consequences of acts. However,the accurate utility estimation is confronted with dilemmas in practice. The problems include the accumulation or offset of commensurability, precise measure of each type of consequences, concrete calculating methods and probability. Classic utilitarianism＇s investigation and justification,represented by Bentham,didn＇t really resolve those problems. Modern utilitarianism takes the objective consequence of acts or institution as objects of utility calculus ,rather than subject＇s sensibility ,which shed a light on helping utilitar- ianism out of dilemmas. The way for utility estimation out of dilemmas lies in expanding the information founda- tion of assessment and appealing to comprehensive evaluative criterions. The criterions comprise rationality and the irrational ability ,such as moral intuition and preference.