Forms Of Utilitarianism

Question 1

Define Multi-level Act Utilitarianism

Answer 1

Act utilitarianism as the criterion of correctness (right), with rules of thumb to aid in simplifying the decision procedure which are generally the right responses to a situation but have no inherent value as principles in themselves and can be disregarded when necessary

Question 2

Define Act Utilitartianism in its most basic form

Answer 2

An act is only right if it produces at least as much overall happiness or more than any other possible action

Question 3

Define Rule Utilitarianism in its most basic form

Answer 3

An act is only rights if it confroms to a rule which generally leads to the greatest happiness

Question 4

How does Mills approach character

Answer 4

Although never mentioned directly, rather than believing in certain character qualities he would most probably believe one should have the character which results in one performing those actions which maximise happiness
OR
a character which itself maximises happiness

Question 5

Define Actualism

Answer 5

Perspective held by Mills:

Taking account of only what actually happens - the right action is only that which ACTUALLY produces the greates possible happiness

Question 6

Define Actualism

Answer 6

Perspective held by Mills:
theory of righness doesn’t directly effect how we should do the right thing practically

Taking account of only what actually happens - the right action is only that which ACTUALLY produces the greates possible happiness

So long as a medical procedure with a 1% chance of success does succeed and it improves the quality of life, it is the morally right action

Question 7

What is the alternaqtive to Mills Actualism?

Answer 7

Probablism - theory of righness doesn’t directly effect how we should do the right thing practically

Takes the probability into account for rightness - what the agent is justified in believing at the time the action occurs

welfare outcome x probability of succeeding = goodness

Question 8

Positives of adopting Probabilism

Answer 8

possible response to consequences which stretch into the future (Hitler’s ancestor example)

Question 9

Negatives of adopting probabilism

Answer 9

Unintended good and bad consequences cancel eachother out

Question 10

the ‘tendency of actions’

Answer 10

Mills argues for act utilitarianism but bases this on generalised rules, making reference to secondary principles

IMPORTANT: no inherent good in these rules do not morally absolve you if you choose wrong

Question 11

Demandingness Objection

Answer 11

if all that matters is maximising overall happiness, and your happiness only counts as much as anyone else’s, then pursuit of others happiness could outweigh development of personal projects/ relationships - Mills undersells the commitment asked of utilitarianism

Question 12

Why the demandingness objection is wrong

Answer 12

The Sheriff example - any example which seems to go against utiltiarianism actually doesn’t because of long term cause/effect

Question 13

example of the sheriff

Answer 13

The sheriff can either kill an innocent or allow a riot which would kill many- mill would say keep the rule and don’t kill innocent, seems to go against act utilitarianism but actually doesn’t

Question 14

Define Supererogatory Actions

Answer 14

actions which go beyond the call of duty

Question 15

Why supererogatory actions are not relevent to utilitarianism

Answer 15

Mills isn’t interested at this point in what is deserving of punishment and whether it is punishable wrongness -
he is interested in analysing the notion of wrongness itself???

Mills also sees punishment as something which should maximise utility - what can be learned from the blame of an individual (objection: paternalistic, no moral standard)

Question 16

The problem with praise and blame system where the outcome is based on utility

Answer 16

lack of openness - the implication that one pwerson knows better what verdict will benefit us other than the truth - deceit is allowed

Question 17

Define contractualism

Answer 17

Society should be set upon the idea of reciprocating beneficial rules - however future generations cannot reciprocate good things we do to their benefit but it is still considered the right action

Question 18

Problem with contractualism

Answer 18

The coherence of the rules doesn’t create a moral justification, we would need to start with moral beliefs that are attractive in their own right, independent of how they mesh with other moral beliefs

Question 19

The problem of equality

Answer 19

any moral theory which requires us to make decisions based on an equal concern for everyone is counterintuitive

There must be an allowance for considerable bias towards both yourself And your family/ friends

In this sense rule consequentialism is less demanding whilst still being fundamentally impartial

Question 20

How rule consequentialism establishes rules

Answer 20

The code of rules is established when a rule is internalised by the overwhelming majority as it results in the bets consequences

Equally higher level rules which supersede these are established similarly but an agent cannot be blamed for taking the wrong action out of legitimate ignorance

Determining the majority is arbitrary but absolutely essential

Question 21

Demandingness of rule utilitarianism

Answer 21

At first glance, less demanding, decision procedure based on set rules

However, the internalisation of the rules is perhaps more demanding - cultural cost

Question 22

Why rule consequentialism does not collapse into act consequentialism

Answer 22

The criterion of correctness puts the importance or motivation of the action upon following the rules and even if some are more valuable than others

Question 23

The happiness pump

Answer 23

A person who sacrifices personal growth and hobbies so long as someone else is made happier by the alternative

Too demanding in small actions (give money to most efficient charity, making only the food necessary for survival) but not demanding enough as to when torture or enslavement are permissible

Question 24

What is a satisficing action

Answer 24

One which is morally okay but not the very best