What is good is independent of utility

There are intrinsic goods¹ which are independent of utility. Intrinsic goods are, furthermore, more valuable than extrinsic and systemic ones.² Utility substitutes the complexity of reality with cause and effect mechanisms with ultimate focus on outcomes. Utility suggests that such outcomes can be assessed by calculation (the greatest happiness of the greatest number). There are consequences that are not taken into account because of the difficulty in knowing how much weight to give them. Utility replaces interiority (context and intention) with externalities (consequences) and then calls itself objective.³ Situations become misjudged when only consequences are taken into account. Emotional blunting (deficits in emotional understanding) leads to a calculating and utilitarian approach.⁴

Notes:
1. Robert Hartman, Freedom to Live, p. 69.
2. Robert Hartman, The Structure of Value, p. 114.
3. Iain McGilchrist, The Matter with Things, p. 1758.
4. Ibid., p. 1759.