I've only seen one of the Star Trek movies once a long time ago. To be honest, I didn't really like it. Despite this, I have heard the quote many times "the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few". I'm so unfamiliar with the Trekkie universe that I had to look up the quote to make sure I wasn't misquoting. Nonetheless, I still want to address a point that I hear often: Spock's quote describes utilitarianism.
For those of y'all who don't know, utilitarianism is a philosophy which states that the morally correct choice is the one that maximizes utility. Philosophers who worked on the principal such as John Stewart Mill and Jeremy Bentham define utility more or less as the pleasure gained from the action minus the pain it caused. For example, if I worked out every day I would gain the pleasure of a long healthy life and a rocking hot body which gets me all the ladies. I would also lose one hour a day and a fair amount of energy. In the end, the pleasures out way the pains. Thus, according to the principals of utilitarianism, it is correct for me to work out.
With this description of Bentham and Mill's philosophy, you might think that Spock's quote is super utilitarian. "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few". Doesn't it make perfect seance? Consider this as an example: my friends and I are driving around. I have to go to the mall but all of my friends have to go to a hair salon. The utilitarian thing to do would be to go to the hair salon. More people go to where they want to go. The needs of the many (those who are going to the salon) outweigh the needs of the few (me going to the mall).
Clearly, this is not the case. Otherwise, I would have not titled the post what it is. In reality, the example that I gave is one of many. I could just as well come up with another one where helping one person is the morally correct action to take according to utilitarianism. In fact, let's do it. My friend's and I are still driving around. They all want to go to the hair salon but I'm bleeding profusely. If I don't get to the hospital soon, I'll die. In this case, the philosophy would dictate that we should go to the hospital because my lose is grater than my friend's combined gain.
Spock says that helping the many is always the right action to take. In utilitarianism, one doesn't always have to do what's best for the many. In the example from the previous paragraph, the correct thing to do is help out one person (dying me), not the many (my friends who want to get their hair groomed).
Just to be clear, I'm not saying Spock's actions aren't utilitarian. I have no idea as I've only seen one Star Trek movie and I barely paid attention1. I'm also not saying that utilitarianism is the perfect moral code. I just though I could address an error that I've heard quite a bit and also teach people a bit about philosophy. I hope it worked. Bye.
1Please don't be mad at me, Trekkies. I'm sure Star Trek is great, it's just not for me.
