2.1 Utilitarianism - scholars

Question 1

precursors to util: John Gay’s ‘theological utilitarian’ argument

Answer 1

we have a duty to promote human happiness since God wants mankind’s happiness

Question 2

precursors to util: John Gay’s theological defence of promotion of happiness

Answer 2

viewing happiness as good is part of God’s design, explaining why promoting human and personal happiness coincide. God wills humanity’s happiness, personal happiness depends on conformity to God’s will as it is only he who can in all cases make man happy or miserable

Question 3

precursors to util: Shaftesbury - it is ‘the private interest and good of everyone to…

Answer 3

…work towards the greater good’

Question 4

precursors to util: Shaftesbury’s ideas on how we determine a person morally virtuous / good

Answer 4

we consider their impact on the systems they are part of - a virtuous person contributes to the good of the whole

Question 5

precursors to util: Shaftesbury’s idea of ‘moral sense’ theory

Answer 5

we possess a kind of ‘inner eye’ or intuition which allows us to make moral discriminations - we can attain the ‘science of what is morally good or ill’

Question 6

precursors to util: Hutcheson ‘virtue is in a compound ratio of…

Answer 6

…the quantity of good, and the number of enjoyers … so that that action is best which procures the greatest happiness for the greatest numbers’

Question 7

precursors to util: Hutcheson’s deontological constraint on his utilitarian principle of action choice

Answer 7

we have a duty to other in virtue of their personhood to accord them fundamental dignity regardless of the numbers of others whose happiness is to be affected by the action is consequence

Question 8

Michael Sandel objection to Bentham’s util: fails to adequately respect individual rights

Answer 8

concerned with the greatest good for the greatest number, which may be at the expense to the individual
calls into question if there is a ‘categorical moral duty of respect for individual rights’

Question 9

Michael Sandel objection to Bentham’s util: difficulty of translating all values into a single uniform measure of value

Answer 9

often results in loss - eg cost-benefit analysis idea of ‘placing a dollar on the human life’, which many are unhappy with

Question 10

Michael Sandel: why Mill’s ‘higher pleasures’ are harder to attain than lower

Answer 10

they require education, cultivation, and appreciation

Question 11

Michael Sandel: how Mill’s utilitarianism promotes respecting justice and individual rights

Answer 11

the long run interests of humankind are considered, these things mean society is better off in the long run