There are three main types of utilitarianism:

Act Utilitarianism: this deals with the consequences of individual acts, and follows no absolute rules, except that the greatest good is produced for the greatest number.

Rule Utilitarianism: This allows certain absolute rules to be followed, (for example 'do not kill') i.e. those that society has established to allow the greatest good to the greatest number.

Preference Utilitarianism: says that you should act in a way that the person involved prefer, unless that preference is outweighed by others.

The pioneer of the utilitarianism theory was Jeremy Bentham. He lived from 1748-1832 and was brought up in a very intellectual family. Both his father and grandfather were lawyers and so he was expected to follow them into law.

While reading Priestly's Essay on Government he found the principle "the greatest good of the greatest number". He decided to apply this principle to all the areas of

Its extent, the number of persons it affects.

Therefore I can see why it can be a good idea to have a teleological theory in certain circumstances, but sometimes we need an absolute moral law because certain things can never be morally right, such as the separation of conjoined twins where one will definitely die.

Its duration, i.e. how long it lasts

He said that Bentham's theory was "...a doctrine worth only of swine" because this is too limited. Humans do not seek just pleasure. He also said that some kinds of pleasure are "more desirable"

Some topics in this essay:
Mary Jodie, Hedonic Calculus, Essay Government, Stuart Mill, Mary Jodie's, , Jeremy Bentham, Rule Utilitarianism, Preference Utilitarianism, Act Utilitarianism, hedonic calculus, absolute moral law, moral law, doctors mary, mary died, utilitarianism act, act moral, absolute moral, conjoined twins, jodie live, absolute rules, chance followed feelings,