第三讲：给生命标价

边沁是这样论证一个原则的

Bentham arrives at ehis principle by rhe following line of reasoning :

我们都受到痛苦和快乐的支配：

we're all governed by pain and pleasure,

苦乐是我们至高无上的主宰。

they are our sovereign masters,

因此任何道德体系应考虑到它们

and so any moralsystem has to take account of them

边沁说，应最大化幸福

Bentham tells us happiness,

或更精确来说，最大化功利

or more precisely utility.

功利最大化原则，不只针对一个人，也适用于共同体及立法者

maximizing utility as a principle not only for indivicluals ,but also for communities and for legis lators.

 边沁问，到底什么是共同体？

what,affter all ,is a community ? Bentham asks.

共同体是其成员的集合

It's the sum of the inividuals who comprire it .

所以在制定最优政策时

and that's why in deciding the best policy,

制定法律时，决定何为公正时

in deciding what the law should be , in deciding what's just.

当用政策带来的总效应

if we add up all of the benefits of this  policy.

减去总成本

and subtract all of the costs,

正确选择应该是

the right thing to do is the one

减去苦难后，幸福最大化的那个

that‘'s maximizes the balance of happiness over suffering.

这就是所谓的功利最大化

that's what it means to maximize utility .

功利主义的逻辑

and it often goes , this utilitarian logic , 

通常被称为成本效益分析

under the name of cost-benefit analysis ,

一再被企业政府运用

which is used by companies and goverment all the time

其做法包括 做出估价

and what it involves is placing a value