Essential Flashcards For Utilitarianism
What is Act utilitarianism?
Act utilitarianism is a theory of ethics which states that a person’s act is morally right only if it produces the best possible results in that specific situation. Greatest good for the greatest number
Consequentialist
Someone who decides weather an action is good or bad by its consequences.
What is the Hedonic calculus
Bentham’s method for measuring the good and bad effects of an action.
Explain Hedonism
The view that pleasure is the “chief” good. / The pursuit of pleasure.
Preference
A bigger liking for one alternative than another.
What is Rule Utilitarianism?
is an ethical theory rooted in hedonism that seeks the good outcome as in which the majority benefits.
Principle of utility
is the theory of usefulness, states that actions or behaviors are right as they promote happiness or pleasure, wrong as they tend to produce unhappiness or pain.
Explain the term Quantitative
Looking at the quantity of the happiness.
Explain the term Qualitative
looking at the quality of something rather than the quantity
Explain the term Theological
Moral actions are right or wrong according to their outcome or telos (end)
What is Universalisability?
is a theory that states any moral judgment must be equally applicable to every relevantly identical situation.
List the Philosophers that developed Utilitarianism
Jeremy Bentham, J.S Mill, Peter Singer
What is a weakness of the Hedonic Calculus?
It is too time consuming and it’s difficult to apply as you cannot predict future consequences.
What is Preference Utilitarianism?
Goodness if the maximising preferences and interests of all
- By Peter Singer.
