Definition
A problem in population ethics demonstrating that certain theories might imply it is better to add a few miserable people to a population rather than a large number of slightly happy people.
Why It Matters
The Sadistic Conclusion exposes a deep flaw in ‘total’ utilitarianism; it forces us to confront the fact that maximizing happiness can lead to horrifying moral outcomes, necessitating more robust frameworks for human rights and ethics.
Core Concepts
- Population Axiology: The study of how to evaluate populations of different sizes and quality of life.
- Average Utilitarianism: The view that we should maximize average, not total, well-being.
- Counterintuitive Implications: Ethical models breaking down at extreme boundary conditions.