Utilitarianism from the Perspective of Buddhist Scriptures

 Utilitarianism from the Perspective of Buddhist Scriptures

Introduction to UtilitarianismU

tilitarianism, proposed by Bentham and Mill, advocates for the "greatest happiness principle": actions or policies that bring the greatest happiness to the most people and reduce the most suffering are considered justified. This philosophy simplifies moral issues into calculations of pleasure and pain, attempting to quantify justice. However, it raises questions: Is it permissible to sacrifice the few for the happiness of the many? Can human life, dignity, friendship, and other values be reduced to mere numbers?

Buddhist Perspective: Not Sacrificing the Few for the Happiness of the ManyThe "Amitabha Sutra" proclaims that beings in the Pure Land "experience no suffering but enjoy all pleasures," indicating that an ideal world is one where suffering is completely eliminated, rather than one where the suffering of some is exchanged for the happiness of others. This resonates with the "Lotus Sutra," which states that "all beings possess Buddha-nature," explicitly affirming that all lives are equal and that no one should become a sacrifice for the happiness of others.

Buddhist Perspective: Emphasizing Compassion Rather than Utilitarian CalculationsIn the "Anguttara Nikaya," the Buddha teaches: "If one sees beings suffering and feels compassion, this is called great compassion." True morality should be rooted in compassion, rather than in calculating whether the outcome maximizes happiness. Buddhism’s "Four Immeasurables"—loving-kindness, compassion, empathetic joy, and equanimity—especially emphasize the equal wish for all beings to be free from suffering and attain happiness, which is in direct contrast to the utilitarian logic of "sacrificing the few to satisfy the many."

Buddhist Perspective: Valuing Intentions Over OutcomesThe "Amitabha Sutra" states, "Whether for one day or seven days, if one is single-minded and undistracted, at the time of death one will attain rebirth," emphasizing that what determines one’s fate is the purity of one’s mind, not the external actions that lead to certain results. This differs from the utilitarian focus on "the goodness or badness of outcomes," as Buddhist teachings assert that if the motivation is unwholesome, the result, regardless of its nature, does not align with the right path.

Buddhist Perspective: The Incalculable Value of LifeThe "Diamond Sutra" clearly states, "If one observes the Tathagata through the thirty-two marks, this is called wrong view," indicating that Buddha-nature and true value cannot be measured by external appearances, but lie in the equality and unobstructed nature of the mind. Reducing life and dignity to numerical values fails to truly comprehend the supreme value of sentient beings.

✅ In summary, Buddhist scriptures consistently indicate:

Morality should be based on compassion and wisdom, rather than the quantity of happiness;  

All beings possess Buddha-nature, and no life should be used as a tool to achieve the happiness of the majority;  

True "Pure Land" is one devoid of suffering and free from afflictions, rather than one where the suffering of a few is seen as a reasonable cost.