2.1 Utilitarianism Flashcards

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1
Q

Utilitarianism

A

Ethical system based on the premise that the most moral thing is to create the greatest happiness for the greatest number.

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2
Q

Utility principle

A

The principle that the greatest happiness for the greatest number is the end of moral action.
This is essentially ‘act utilitarianism’ and one may need to consider whether an immediate action is going to bring about better consequences than an action in the future. E.g. if there is a choice between less happiness for the individual but greater net happiness for the community as a whole, the utilitarian must choose the latter.

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3
Q

Pleasure

A

The experience of something good or joyful

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4
Q

Hedonism

A

An ethical system which focusses on the wants and happiness of the individual

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5
Q

Social Influence

A

The effect of change within society on a group or school of thought

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6
Q

Jeremy Bentham

A

Philosopher and founder of utilitarian thinking

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7
Q

John Stuart Mill

A

Philosopher who developed classical utilitarianism, creating rule utilitarianism

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8
Q

Act Utilitarianism

A
  • The form of utilitarianism which is purely about creating the greatest happiness for the greatest number.
  • Argues that the ultimate good is pleasure or happiness.
  • Human behaviour can be explained by psycological hedonism: pleasure is the sole good and pain the soul evil.
  • The rightness of an action depends on how much pleasure it produces.
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9
Q

Rule Utilitarianism

A

The form of utilitarianism which posits that not only should your actions create the greatest happiness for the greatest number, but also minimise pain

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10
Q

Relativism

A

An approach towards ethical navigation where the moral option will change depending on the situation

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11
Q

New morality

A

The social shift in the twentieth century away from traditional conservative Christian values to more liberal progressive values

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12
Q

Consequentialism

A

The view that the moral value of an action lies in its consequences

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13
Q

Harm Principle

A

Mill’s liberal principle that individuals should be free to do as they wish as long as they do not harm others or their interests

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14
Q

Preference Utilitarianism

A

A modern version of utilitarianism which argues that an action should be judged on the extent to which it conforms to the preferences of those involved rather than the pleasure it produces

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15
Q

Negative Utilitarianism

A

A form of utilitarianism that first seeks to avoid pain before seeking happiness

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16
Q

Ideal Utilitarianism

A

A form of utilitarianism that takes into account intrinsic benefits like beauty or knowledge, not just pleasure

17
Q

Bentham Quote’s

A

‘Nature has placed mankind under the governance of two sovereign masters, pain and pleasure’

‘An action may be said to be conformable to the principle of utility when the tendency it has to augment the happiness of the community is greater than any it has to diminish it.’

18
Q

Hedonic Calculus

A

Bentham assumed that pleasure and pain were measurable