What maximizes your utility level?

Utility is the only goal of human existence. This might sound like a biased motto. However, if you think deeper and understand the concept of utility more precisely, you will surely come to the same conclusion – everyone will come to the same conclusion.

Jeremy Bentham, the father of utilitarianism, defines the concept in a most precise manner: “that property in any object, whereby it tends to produce benefit, advantage, pleasure, good, or happiness...or...to prevent the happening of mischief, pain, evil, or unhappiness”.

The definition by Bentham is perfect. So, isn’t that the ultimate goal of human being to attain the greatest pleasure and to prevent pain and unhappiness? We love money because it allows us to fulfill all of our dreams that provide pleasure and happiness to us. We love arts because it also provides aesthetic pleasure and nice feelings. We love sex because it provides pleasure and satisfaction…

Some might argue that there exist people who are not utility maximizers.  No, that is not true. All of us turn out being utility maximizers in the end. Even the monks, who do not get any pleasure from earthly things, turn out being the most fanatic utility maximizers. They like self-flagellation because it provides spiritual utility to them – they are pleased spiritually. Even the martyrs, who fight for some goals and sacrifice their lives, are the biggest utilitarians. They get the biggest pleasure knowing that they are giving everything for achieving the ultimate goal – their physical pain is worth the spiritual pleasure they experience.

Scientists experience pleasure through the channels of knowledge and satisfied curiosity; politicians experience pleasure when they attain power and prestige etc. Thus the difference between the various kinds of people is the channels through which they attain pleasure and the only goal is MAXIMAL UTILITY.