Consequentialism

Question 1

What is consequentialism? /4

Answer 1

describes ethical theories primarily interested in consequences

umbrella term

type of decision making that ends justifying the means

an act is morally permissible if it leads to more good consequences than bad ones

Question 2

What are considered good consequences? /2

Answer 2

hedonism

utilitarianism

Question 3

What is hedonism? /4

Answer 3

maximize pleasure

minimize pain

an act is good one if it increases our pleasure or avoids some pain

ex. the experience machine

Question 4

What is utilitarianism? /4(7)

Answer 4

produce the greatest amount of wellbeing for the greatest amount of people

founded by Jeremy Bentham

most utilitarians will draw up a good vs. bad consequences

modern examples:
- doctors

• self driving cars
• arguments for vaccination

Question 5

Who is Jeremy Bentham? /2(5)

Answer 5

early British reformer

advocated for:
- decriminalization of homosexuality

• abolish slavery
• abolish the death penalty
• creation of the welfare state

Question 6

Why is rule-based ethics appealing? /3

Answer 6

producing happiness and reducing unhappiness

take decisions about what to do by considering what results will be produced

easy to understand and based on common sense

Question 7

What are the strengths of utilitarianism? /4

Answer 7

relatively straightforward

making moral decisions that come naturally to most people

uses common sense to focus on outcomes (consequences) to our actions

maximizing wellbeing seems like an uncontroversial idea

Question 8

What are the weaknesses of utilitarianism? /4

Answer 8

The Trolley problem by Philippa Foot

unsure of the consequences when we are making a decision (can’t tell the future)

no way to properly measure the “goodness” of different outcomes

results of utilitarian logic often be unfair to minorities