Act Utilitarianism (IMPORTANT) Flashcards
Who are the authors of Consequentialist Ethics: Act Utilitarianism
Richard Burnor and Yvonne Raley
Who are the important figures in Consequentialist Ethics: Act Utilitarianism?
Jeremy Bentham and Peter Singers.
(ESSENTIAL) What is Act Utilitarianism?
Act Utilitarianism is an impartial consequentialist theory where it takes everyone affected into account.
> IT determines the ONE morally right act for any given situation where that act would only produce the greatest potential utility possible in its consequences.
What are the four aspects that Act Utilitarianism consists of and what does each mean?
SCOPE: considers every single individual directly and indirectly affected by that act.
DURATION: How long can these effects last for each individual, the longer it lasts, the more it counts.
INTENSITY: The degree of force and strength of the effect on those individuals.
PROBABILITY: How likely is each of those effects to occur for these individuals? What specific effects can happen at what time?
How are the methods you assess the morality of an act in Act Utilitarianism? What is the method?
1) Know your choices
2) On each choice, determine the potential utility and disutility by considering (duration, probability, intensity, and scope).
3) Then do math: (Utility - Disutility) = Expected Utility of each choice.
4) Evaluate what choice leads to the most utility out of all choices.
5) The choice that yields the greatest potential utility is an ethical act.
What does the theory of Act Utilitarianism never permit?
Act Utilitarianism never promotes individuals to make moral decisions under Ethical Egoism (moral decisions that suit their best self-interest) as it is considered unethical. The opposite of Ethical Egoism.
What does it mean by Act Utilitarianism is an impartial consequentialist theory?
Act Utilitarianism emphasizes that everyone from any social class or race is accounted for when making an ethical decision.
It determines what is morally right or morally wrong depending solely on the utility of a consequence.
How do you know if a decision is morally right with the approach of act utilitarianism?
If my ethical choice would lead to the highest potential utility generated for everyone affected. If everyone at most is likely to be happy and satisfied with my decision.
What are the advantages of Act Utilitarianism?
Act Utilitarianism can eliminate tricky ethical dilemmas with its objective and scientific approach.
It is also impartial, meaning that it counts all individuals affected as equals and relates to objectivity.
It can be flexible and applied in any given situation, and such a simple principle to follow is only producing the greatest utility possible for everyone affected.
Act Utilitarianism also includes animals who are affected as well.
What is the right thing to do according to Act Utilitarianism?
Your action is deemed morally right under act utilitarianism if that choice yields the greatest potential utility.
What are the listed disadvantages of Act Utilitarianism?
Calculation Problem
Moral Saints Problem
Moral Permissive Objection
Human Rights/Justice Objection
What is a (Calculation Problem) disadvantage of Act Utilitarianism?
CALCULATION PROBLEM:
It is challenging to evaluate all potential consequences and calculate the weight of scope, duration, probability, and intensity for everyone affected. It leads to uncertainty of what’s a good moral choice to choose.
What is a (Moral Saints Problem) disadvantage of Act Utilitarianism?
MORAL SAINTS PROBLEM:
It is a very demanding theory where we have to consider the moral decisions for everything, even the most insignificant things could be potential ethical issues.
What is a (Moral Permissive Objection) disadvantage of Act Utilitarianism?
MORAL PERMISSIVENESS OBJECTION:
Act utilitarianism in its nature can approve any actions, even those that are immoral.
For example, I would have to initially kill someone if it meant that it could save two other people.
What is the (Justice/Human rights objection) disadvantage of Act Utilitarianism?
JUSTICE/HUMAN RIGHTS OBJECTION:
Act Utilitarianism approves an action that requires us to violate the personal rights of other individuals if it means that it would lead to greater utility in consequence.
For example, Act Utilitarianism deems an action of forcefully taking someone’s organ and sacrificing personal rights because this would benefit others as morally good in this theory.
