Ethics- Bentham And Kant

Question 1

Act Utilitarianism

Answer 1

Bentham’s account of Utilitarianism : in any situation , one should choose the action that maximises utility

Question 2

Autonomy

Answer 2

The state of being self-governed/self-ruled/free from external control or influences

Question 3

Categorical imperative

Answer 3

An absolute / categorical (undeniable) , unconditional , moral command , for example DO NOT MURDER

Question 4

Maxim

Answer 4

A general guideline or principle of action

Question 5

Noumenal (realm)

Answer 5

Reality as it ‘really’ is , experienced by the synthetic a priori

Question 6

Ontology

Answer 6

A branch of metaphysics that deals with the nature of existence/being

Question 7

‘Ought implies can’

Answer 7

Kant’s view that the force of the moral ‘ought’- the Categorical Imperative that we ‘ought’ to do our moral duty - implies that we can do our moral duty

Question 8

Phenomenal (realm)

Answer 8

The world of phenomena - the world as experienced through the senses , governed by the laws of cause and effect

Question 9

Postulate

Answer 9

A presupposition or assumption which you must have accepted in order to make sense of your moral choices. In Kant’s ethics , the three postulated of practical reason are : God , freedom and immortality, and these underpin Kant’s doctrine of the summum bonum

Question 10

Prima facie duties

Answer 10

W.D Ross’s amendment to Kantian ethics, that we have prima facie (on the face of it ) duties , for example, to parents , children and the innocent ; and that in cases where categorical imperatives conflict , one of these duties can take priority over another : so with the mad axe - murderer , the duty to save an innocent life overrides the duty to tell the truth

Question 11

Summum bonum

Answer 11

The highest / supreme good ; the culmination of Kant’s ethics where virtue meets its appropriate reward of perfect happiness

Question 12

Synthetic a priori

Answer 12

These propositions ( such as the Categorical Imperative) provide new information that is necessarily true. Moral judgements are a priori because we do not know them by sense experience . They have necessary force - the compulsion of the moral ‘ought’ . They are synthetic because we cannot establish what we ought to do by arguing about analytic definitions

Question 13

Universalisability

Answer 13

The main formulation of the Categorical Imperatice : Act only according to that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law

Question 14

Utility

Answer 14

That property in any object , whereby it tends to produce benefit , advantage , pleasure , good or happiness ; or to prevent mischief , pain, evil , unhappiness to the party whose interest is considered ( an individual or the wider community)

Question 15

Volition

Answer 15

Exercise of the will

Question 16

What does Bentham says rules us ?

Answer 16

“Nature has placed mankind under the governance of two sovereign masters , pain and pleasure … They govern us in all we do , in all we say , in all we think”

Question 17

What shoes that Bentham made no attempt to claim that some pleasures are superior to others ?

Answer 17

“Prejudices apart , the game of push-pin is of equal value with the arts and sciences of music and poetry”

Question 18

What does Bentham say that shows he thought everyone was equal ?

Answer 18

“Each person is to count for one and no one for more than one”

Question 19

What does Kant say about the good will ?

Answer 19

“The autonomy of the will is the sole principle of all moral laws and of the duties confirming to them…”

Question 20

What does Kant say about the good will being the only thing you can trust ?

Answer 20

“There is no possibility of thinking of anything at all in the world , or even out of it , which can be regarded as good without qualification, except a good will…”

Question 21

John Stuart Mill on the direct link between Utilitarianism and Christianity

Answer 21

“In the golden rule of Jesus of Nazareth , we read the complete spirit of the ethics of utility . To do as you would be done by and to love your neighbour as yourself…”