There are some exciting TED videos that relate handily to utilitarianism. Particularly this one, which discusses how our memories of certain experiences can be drastically better or worse than the experience itself. This raises questions about how we should measure the utility value of certain experiences.

Enjoy.

It's a video that I've seen before, but as you say, it's relevant to utilitarianism.

Here's my position. Experiencing an event directly counts, morally. Remembering an event also counts. We can be happy or sad, flourishing or suffering due to events real, imagined or remembered. So if I go on a holiday to France, I will enjoy this experience while I am there. After I travel back home to Australia, I may recall my time there. When I take pleasure in remembering my time in France, for all utilitarian purposes, this is a new experience. Remembering the narrative of my trip to France is a new experience.

The overall principle is that events now can be experienced now and they can also rewire our minds to cause experiences at a later date

According to the study cited here anticipation seems to have a greater effect hedonic effect compared to memory, at least for vacations.

Jesper Östman wrote:According to the study cited here anticipation seems to have a greater effect hedonic effect compared to memory, at least for vacations.

Great find Jesper! Thanks for the share