Porky

Hedonism says that the only thing that is good is pleasure. Act Utilitarianism says that it is wrong to perform an action that fails to maximize goodness. Hedonic Act Utilitarianism says that it is wrong to perform an action that fails to maximize pleasure.

One problem for Hedonic Act Utilitarianism is "the Bestiality Objection." Someone I know has a funny way of putting the objection. They say it this way:

Suppose that you are a farmer. Suppose that you own a pig pen. Suppose that Porky has a fetish for pigs. Suppose that there are two actions you can perform. One is that you can let porky into your pig pen. If you do that, then he will perform all sorts of obscene acts with the pigs. He will enjoy a lot of pleasure and you will suffer a little pain. The other is that you can refrain from letting Porky into your pig pen. If you do that, he will be disappointed and you will be slightly releived that he won't perform those obscene acts. He will suffer a little pain and you will enjoy a little pleasure. So if you let Porky into your pig pen, you will maximize pleasure. But if you don't let Porky into your pig pen, then you will fail to maximize pleasure.

If Hedonic Act Utilitarianism is true, then it would be wrong for you to refuse to let Porky into your pig pen. But it wouldn't be wrong for you to do that. So Hedonic Act Utilitarianism isn't true.

One day, for work, I shared the story of Porky with a live studio audience. Then I went to the chalkboard and wrote some stuff down. Then I turned around and looked at the live studio audience. There were some empty seats where some people used to be setting.