Ethical theory

Question 1

What is utilitarianism?

Answer 1

• one should always act in a way so as to produce the greatest amount of good and least harm for the greatest amount of people
• trying to minimize harm and max benefit for the most people possible

Question 2

Bentham said good = ________. this is called _________
Mill said good = __________. this is called _______

Answer 2

Bentham said good = pleasure. this is called hedonism
Mill said good = happiness. this is called eudaemonia

Question 3

in the felicific calculus equation, Bentham said to add up the positives called _____ and subtract the negatives called _____. if the total is 1 or higher, it is a (good/bad) decision.

Answer 3

hedons, delors, good

Question 4

explain each measurement of pleasure:
1. intensity
2. duration
3. certainty or uncertainty
4. propinquity or remoteness
5. fecundity
6. purity
7. extent

Answer 4

1. intensity = how strong is the pleasure
2. duration = how long will the pleasure last
3. certainty or uncertainty = how likely or unlikely is it that the pleasure will occur
4. propinquity or remoteness = how soon will the pleasure occur
5. fecundity = the pr that the action will be followed by some sensation of the same kind
6. purity = the pr that the action will not be followed by sensations of the opposite
7. extent = how many people will be affected

Question 5

What is happiness and why did Mill say it was better than pleasure?

Answer 5

happiness = complete sense of wellbeing, balance, mental, physical. Pleasure is not all encompassing term. Eventually we would get bored of just sensual pleasures and would need to fulfill a higher purpose of intellectual pleasures too

Question 6

T/F: sometimes doing something “bad” can be considered morally okay in utilitarianism. Explain this with an example.

Answer 6

T. stealing can be okay if 100 people benefit and 1 person is harmed

Question 7

Explain the diff between act vs. rule utilitarianism using an example.

Answer 7

act = determine what is good in each circumstance and then do what is good
rule = use a predetermined rule about what you should do to promote the most good

ex: you see a homeless person on the street and they ask you for money, however, you know they will use it for drugs. The act util would be NOT to give them money because it will not promote the greatest good. But the rule util would be to give them money because it is a universal rule that sharing money with the poor is good

Question 8

1. T/F: Act utilitarianism do not allow for exceptions
   T/F: Rule utilitarianism can give people the chance to do what is not good through false claims
2. _______ util does not encourage moral development but _____ util does it too much

Answer 8

1. F. That is rule util
   F. that is act util
2. rule util, act util

Question 9

T/F: being a utilitarian means you may have to sacrifice for the good of others

Answer 9

T

Question 10

what is deontology? how is it diff from utilitarianism?

Answer 10

utilitarianism is about the outcomes, but deontology is not about the outcomes, it is about duty and principles; your attention to WHY you did it matters

Question 11

what 2 imperatives did kant say about deontology? Give an example in relation to lying to a patient’s family about them having HIV

Answer 11

1. categorical = act only according to where you can be kind to everyone and if this occurs, the world would be wonderful
2. practical = act so you treat humanity always as an end and never as a means only

ex: categorical = lying is wrong because you could not universalize lying as good
practical = lying deprives the parents of their entitled role and treats them as a means to the end

Question 12

What are the 6 deontologist fundamental principles of good action? explain each

Answer 12

1. autonomy and respect for persons = people have the right to self determine, we shouldn’t violate other’s right to self determine
2. impossibility = rights/duties are void only if they are impossible –> have a duty to save the life of the terminal patient as much as you can
3. fidelity or right action = have the duty to discharge obligations to the best of your abilities while adhering to the assigned mission
4. equality and justice = duties without discrimination
5. beneficence = do good things
6. non-malfeasance = do no harm

Question 13

1. Explain health care practice and how it differs from deontology?
2. what are the 4 codes of ethics in professional healthcare?

Answer 13

1. in health care, the duties are not absolute because they must be considered and evaluated depending on the situation
2. 1) autonomy
   2) beneficence
   3) non-maleficence
   4) justice