Exam Cards - Utilitarianism Flashcards
1
Q
Who is utilitarianism most commonly associated with?
A
Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill.
2
Q
Outline the main teaching of Utilitarianism.
A
The right moral actions are those which produce the greatest amount of happiness for the greatest number of people.
3
Q
What is the Hedonic Calculus and who proposed it?
A
A way of calculating the course of action which will produce the greatest pleasure in a situation.
4
Q
What criticism did John Stuart Mill make of Bentham’s Utilitarianism?
A
It was focused on lower pleasures rather than higher pleasures.
5
Q
What is the difference between Act and Rule Utilitarianism.?
A
Act Utilitarianism is situational, whereas Rule Utilitarianism is legalistic.
6
Q
Outline the strengths of Utilitarianism.
A
- Encourages a democratic approach to situations, considering the majority’s interests
- It is straightforward
- It is subjective and relative, so it remains flexible to different situations
