Some Common Errors and Misconceptions

1. "Utilitarianism says that what produces the most pleasure minus pain for you is right." The error here is in the words "for you." Utilitarians count the pleasure and pain that results from an action for everyone who is effected, not just one person.

2. "Utilitarianism says that an action is right if it causes more pleasure than pain." The error here is that utilitarian says the right thing is the one that causes the most pleasure minus pain among the things that could be done if they were chosen. The best thing might be pretty bad, that is, it might cause much more pain than pleasure. It is still right because it is the best thing that can be done in the circumstances.

3. "Kant says that something is right if everyone approves of it." This is not they way Kant reasons. He asks if it would be rational for you to choose that everyone do something (act on a certain maxim). It makes no difference whether people agrees with this or not, although Kant thinks that the right answer does not depend on who is answering the question. If you might decide never to help anyone, you test this idea by asking if it would be rational for you to choose that no one ever help anyone. It would not be rational to choose this (even if some people might actually choose it) because you would be choosing that no one help you if you need help.

4. "Kant says you can't treat people as a means." This is almost right. He says you can't treat people as means only, ignoring their own welfare.

5. "Nietzsche says you should always do what benefits the nobility." This is not what the noble morality means. The nobility or aristocracy that he has in mind are people of talent and "sensitivity," like artists and poets. He also seems to have no way to argue that anyone should restrain himself (on moral grounds) from anything "life affirming" or "joyful" that he wants to do.