how compatible is Benthams UT with christianity Flashcards
reasons against
-Benthams UT formulated independently of belief in God
-religion has spiritual dimension
-for UT self interest is inevitable, christianity lacks this
-christian moral decision-making focus of weaker members of society
-christianity giver greater value to rules
-for christianity decision must be made in right mental state
Benthams UT was formulated independently of belief in God
-if god irrelevant to theory suggests UT moral decision making is inconsistent with any religious form of moral decision making
-bentham looked forward to future time when religion would become irrelevant in human affairs
(one of reasons he left his body for display, neither he nor any god would have further use)
Unlike UT religion has spiritual dimension
-religion emphasises spiritual dimension to life and relationship with personal god
-kind of happiness christianity looks for rooted in kingdom of heaven, for Bentham happiness pointless if not quantifiable with society
-act UT makes decisions for specific situations, christianity makes decisions with regard to will of god and reward of LAD
UT says self interest is inevitable, christianity lacks thus focus
-bentham envisaged that a properly UT society must be secular one, religious belief perverted principle of utility, it encouraged individuals to act against their own self-interest and that of community as a whole
-since christians seek to put self interest on one side, bentham saw little or no consistency between utilitarian and christian moral decision making
christian moral decision making has a particular focus on weaker members of society
-the meek, the poor, those who are diseased and suffering
-benthams act UT isn’t really compatible with thus approach, since it insists that every individuals happiness counts as one
christianity in general gives greater values to rules in decision making
-not all forms of christianity are rule based but most are
-so moral decisions in DCT and NML are based on specific rules
-in act UT “primary principle of utility” is more important that any rule - any rule that doesn’t max pleasure and min pain bad rule
in christianity to be truly moral, decision must be made in right mental state
-in benthams thinking state of mind of individual making moral decisions cant be known, coz we cant read minds, so individuals task is to max happiness in any situation
-in christian moral decision making agents mental state matters as god knows pals thoughts.
-‘sermon on mount’ J reminds those around him that law forbids adultery but then says man that looks at women lustfully already committed adultery in his heart
reasons for
-Jesus’ actions are utilitarian as he judges people by how they respond to needy
-like UT Jesus acts situationally
-JSM claims that there’s direct link between UT and christianity. J made decisions by means of ‘golden rule’ so do utilitarians
Jesus’ actions are utilitarian as he judges people by how they respond to needy
-when Jesus was asked by what authority he acted, pointed to healing of ppl and feeding of hungry as illustrating sort of change that his ministry was bringing about
-even if not done for UT reasons, he sees UT arguments as relevant to assessment of moral action - parable of sheep and goat (those who ignore strangers, hungry sick etc punished by god)
Like UT, Jesus acts situationally
-situational response is essence of act UT which aims to max utility in situation
-situation dictates the response, and in dealing with any particular situation laws can sometimes be irrelevant
-law of land has to be obeyed unless case is extreme, but morally law can be redundant
-many instances in gossip of Jesus breaking sabbath, jesu said gods law required them to do whats right in the situation
John Stuart Mill claimed that there’s a direct link between UT and christianity. Jesus made decisions by means of ‘golden rule’ and so do utilitarians
-mill was benthams direct successor in developing utilitarian theory and his comments here apply equally to benthams version of theory
-on the whole Mill had very little time for christianity, he says this …. quote
John Stuart Mill quote
“love your neighbour as yourself”
