Preference Utilitarianism
All forms of utilitarianism (with the exception of negative utilitarianism) hold that we ought to maximise the good and minimise the bad. Where the different forms of utilitarianism differ is in what they take to be the good and the bad. Preference utilitarianism holds that the good is preference satisfaction, i.e. getting what we want, and that the bad is the opposite, i.e. not getting what we want. The best known preference utilitarian is Peter Singer.
People may be mistaken about what will make them happy. It may be I think that going to the pub and downing six pints of lager will make me happy, but that I would actually be happier staying at home and reading Dostoievksy.
In such a case, the hedonistic utilitarian would say that it is better if I stay at home and read Dostoievsky; that, after all, is what will make me happiest. The preference utilitarian, though, would say that it is better if I go to the pub; that is what I want to do, and what matters is that I get what I want.
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