The Shift from Hedonism to Preference Utilitarianism

The transition from hedonistic utilitarianism to preference utilitarianism highlights a shift in moral outlook, particularly concerning the implications of maximizing pleasure and minimizing pain. Paternalistic strategies, which can arise under hedonistic utilitarianism, often mandate how individuals should live their lives, leading to potential ethical dilemmas in policy-making. The realization that pleasure-focused frameworks can yield paternalistic conclusions has prompted a reevaluation of what should be maximized in utilitarian thought. Instead of simply pursuing pleasure, the focus is now directed toward satisfying individual preferences, which, according to this perspective, naturally align with enhancing well-being and reducing suffering. This approach suggests that by prioritizing people's preferences, one can inadvertently maximize well-being and minimize suffering, establishing preference satisfaction as a more ethical and effective moral theory in utilitarianism.