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Spreadsheet 'Humanism' is Anything But…

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Jeremy Bentham, by Henry William Pickersgill (died 1875). See source website for additional information. (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) I disagree with Peter Singer on most ethical measures, and this is no exception… Heartwarming causes are nice, but let’s give to charity with our heads - The Washington Post The notion that we can measure what is "right" using a form of ethical calculus dates back to at least Jeremy Bentham (1748–1832) and the Principle of Utility. Bentham argued there are seven variables to consider when judging the "best" choice: Intensity of pleasure. Duration of pleasure. Certainty of consequences. Propinquity (proximity, nearness) of pleasure.  Fecundity (abundance) of pleasure. Purity of pleasure. Extent and scope of pleasure for others.  Singer takes things in the direction of Marx, with the needs of the (desirable and productive) many outweighing individual choice of happiness. For Singer, like the Progressives of the Wilson