bentham and kant Flashcards
1
Q
what are the key features of benthams act utilitarianism
A
- based on the principle of utility
- benthams version of this principle was the greatest happiness principle: maximising pleasure and minimising pain for all those affected by an action
- everyone has an equal right to happiness
- happiness/pleasure is the sole intrinsic good, everything else is instrumentally good at best
- in making moral decisions, each situation needs to be considered in its own right
- focused on quantity and didnt differentiate between different happinesses
- pleasure and pain are measurable: hedonic calculus
2
Q
what is the principle of utility
A
- states that actions are right insofar as they tend to promote pleasure and wrong insofar as they tend to produce pain
3
Q
what are the 7 parts of the hedonic calculus
A
- extent
- intensity
- certainty
- duration
- propinquity
- fecundity
- purity
4
Q
what are some challenges to benthams utilitarianism
A
- there is potential for injustice for minority groups
- motive, rules and duties are seen as being of no importance
- there is too much emphasis on consequences we cannot be certain of
5
Q
what are some responses to the challenges of benthams utilitarianism
A
- in most cases we can be reasonably sure of the outcome of an action
- it would be unjust to favour the minority over the majority
6
Q
what are the key points of kants categorical imperative
A
- deontological
- kant believed that everyone has an inbuilt sense of moral duty
- good will is the only thing that is unconditionally, universally and intrinsically good
- there are three formations
- the theory is based on kants concept of summum bonum
- belief in the summum bonum and the categorical imperative entails making three assumptions about the world that kant referred to as the three postulates
7
Q
why does kant believe everyone has an inbuilt sense of moral duty
A
- it is not god imposed, so it is a secular ethic
- we should do what is right because that is part of what it means to be a rational human being
- our capacity for rational thought is an innate intellectual power that humans possess that distinguishes humans from animals
8
Q
why does kant believe good will is the one true good
A
- acts that result from intellect or personality are at best instrumentally good
- goodness cannot be measured by consequences, as these are uncertain
9
Q
how does kant define good will
A
- kant rejected Hume’s links to self interest, emotions, desires and consequences as these could change
- it is all about having the right motive and duty alone provides this
- duty for dutys sake means obeying a particular moral principle out of duty
10
Q
what are the three formulations of the categorical imperative
A
- the universability of the principle underlying the action
- never treat people merely as a means to an end, but always as an end in themselves
- act as though you were making laws for a kingdom that treated people as an ends in themselves
11
Q
what is summum bonum
A
- the highest good
12
Q
how does the categorical imperative link to summum bonum
A
- this is where virtue meets its appropriate reward of perfect happiness
- humans should strive to be worthy of this happiness
- obedience if the categorical imperative is the means of being worthy of it
- if the good will tells us that we ought to do our duty, then that is possible as ‘ought’ means ‘can’
13
Q
what are the three postulates
A
- immortality – the world is basically fair, so since the reward of perfect happiness for virtue cannot be achieved in this world, there must be immortality
- god – only god can provide immortality so he exists to ensure the summum bonum
- freedom – we cannot prove that we have free will, but it is a necessary assumption since free will is at the heart of morality
14
Q
what are some strengths of kants categorical imperative
A
- doing a bad act to bring about a good outcome (as seen in benthams theory) can never be justified
- the categorical imperative and the principle of universalisability are clear and effective
- the focus on reason rather than emotion promotes objective fairness
15
Q
what are weaknesses of kants categorical imperative
A
- kants idea of universal moral rules is ethnocentric
- surely if the consequences are good (saving the lives of thousands) then the act (killing one person) is good
16
Q
how are benthams rules compatible with christian decision making
A
- benthams attempts at social reform were strongly motivated by compassion and concern for others – jesus said people would be judged on their willingness to help those in need
- he was concerned with what would result in the greatest good for the greatest number which involved rules being set aside in some circumstances – jesus sometimes put rules aside to help people
- self interest is inevitable as it is an integral part of human nature – Jesus’ golden rule
17
Q
how are benthams views not compatible with Christianity
A
- bentham had no time for religion: happiness was earthly happiness – belief in god is central
- bentham rejected any idea of special rights: everyones happiness counted equally – the bible teaches the importance of paying special attention to the vulnerable
- self interest is inevitable as it is an integral part of human nature – Christianity encourages selflessness
18
Q
how are kants views compatible with christian decision making
A
- the rational basis links to Aquinas’s thinking. the good will is freely and rationally chosen – natural law is based on reason. aquinas emphasised the virtues which a good person freely chooses to practice
- the first formulation of the categorical imperative is universalisability – Jesus’ golden rule
- kant thought that reality was beyond the world of space and time – for aquinas, god is beyond space and time. humanitys goal is union with god after death
19
Q
ways kants views arent compatible with christian decision making
A
- our sense of moral obligation comes from our nature as rational beings and has nothing to do with god – belief in god is central to natural law and divine command theory
- it is rule based and rules exist deontologicalaly – jesus set aside rules on occasion to bring about good
- it is a cold theory about duty not love – Jesus’ teaching is focused on love of god and others
20
Q
ways kants views arent compatible with christian decision making
A
- our sense of moral obligation comes from our nature as rational beings and has nothing to do with god – belief in god is central to natural law and divine command theory
- it is rule based and rules exist deontologicalaly – jesus set aside rules on occasion to bring about good
- it is a cold theory about duty not love – Jesus’ teaching is focused on love of god and others
