Issue of calculation

Question 1

What does Utilitarianism require regarding knowledge of the future?

Problems with calculation

Answer 1

Utilitarianism requires knowledge of the consequences of actions before they are performed, implying the need to predict the future outcomes of actions.

Question 2

Why is predicting the future problematic in Utilitarianism?

Problems with calculation

Answer 2

Predicting the future is difficult because it requires knowing not only the consequences of a specific action but also the consequences of all possible actions in a given situation, which is often complex and uncertain.

Question 3

What challenges arise regarding calculations in Utilitarianism?

Problems with calculation

Answer 3

Utilitarianism necessitates complex calculations to determine the impact of different actions on pleasure and pain, including considerations of short-term and long-term consequences, which can be difficult, especially in time-sensitive situations.

Question 4

Why is objective measurement of subjective mental states problematic in Utilitarianism?

Problems with calculation

Answer 4

Utilitarianism requires objective measurement of subjective feelings such as pleasure and pain, which is challenging because there is no objective way to measure subjective experiences.

Question 5

What difficulties do these conditions pose for acting on the principle of utility?

Problems with calculation

Answer 5

These conditions are plagued with difficulties, making it challenging to act on the principle of utility effectively, as they require knowledge of future consequences, complex calculations, and objective measurement of subjective mental states, all of which are problematic.

Question 6

According to Bentham, what determines whether an action is right?

Bentham’s response to issues with calculation.

Answer 6

Bentham asserts that an action is right based on “the tendency which it appears to have” to maximize happiness, suggesting that a reasonable expectation of consequences is sufficient, rather than exact knowledge of future outcomes.

Question 7

How does Bentham’s Utilitarianism address the issue of predicting the future?

Bentham’s response to issues with calculation.

Answer 7

Bentham’s Utilitarianism suggests that we only need a reasonable expectation of consequences based on past experiences of similar actions, rather than exact knowledge of future outcomes, to determine the rightness of an action.

Question 8

What example is provided to defend the measurement of subjective feelings?

Bentham’s response to issues with calculation.

Answer 8

The example of doctors asking patients to rate their pain on a scale of 1 to 10 is used to defend the measurement of subjective feelings, indicating that while imperfect, subjective assessments can still provide informative insights.

Question 9

How do doctors’ assessments of patients’ pain levels support the measurement of subjective feelings?

Bentham’s response to issues with calculation.

Answer 9

Doctors’ assessments of patients’ pain levels, although not perfect indicators, are considered accurate enough to be informative, suggesting that subjective feelings can be measured to some extent, despite their inherently subjective nature.

Question 10

What implication does the defense of Bentham’s Utilitarianism have on the requirement for precise predictions and measurements?

Bentham’s response to issues with calculation.

Answer 10

The defense implies that while precise predictions and measurements may be challenging, a reasonable estimation of consequences and subjective assessments can still provide sufficient guidance for determining the rightness of actions within Utilitarianism.

Question 11

How does Mill’s Utilitarianism address the issue of calculation?

Mill’s response to issues with calculation.

Answer 11

Mill’s Utilitarianism does not require precise predictions of the future or complex calculations. Instead, individuals are urged to follow the secondary principles judged by society to be conducive to happiness, acknowledging that perfect adherence to the principle of utility is currently impossible.

Question 12

What is the basis for determining the moral rightness of an action in Mill’s Utilitarianism?

Mill’s response to issues with calculation.

Answer 12

The moral rightness of an action in Mill’s Utilitarianism depends on its ability to maximize happiness. However, individuals are encouraged to follow societal principles deemed best for promoting happiness, recognizing the complexity of maximizing overall happiness.

Question 13

What is the moral obligation according to Mill’s Utilitarianism?

Mill’s response to issues with calculation.

Answer 13

The moral obligation, according to Mill’s Utilitarianism, is to adhere to the principles that society has judged to be conducive to happiness, even though perfect adherence to the principle of utility may be unattainable.

Question 14

How does Mill view the development of societal principles?

Mill’s response to issues with calculation.

Answer 14

Mill sees societal principles as evolving through collective efforts and experience, reflecting the current stage of civilization and culture in promoting happiness.

Question 15

What approach does Mill suggest for individuals to fulfill their moral obligation in Utilitarianism?

Mill’s response to issues with calculation.

Answer 15

Mill suggests that individuals should strive to follow the societal principles geared towards producing happiness to the best of their ability, recognizing the limitations of perfect adherence to the principle of utility.

Question 16

How does Mill respond to the impossibility of perfectly acting on the principle of utility?

Mill’s response to issues with calculation.

Answer 16

Mill acknowledges the impossibility of perfect adherence to the principle of utility but asserts that Utilitarianism does not fail as a normative theory because it can rely on principles and rules that, to the best of current knowledge, maximize happiness.

Question 17

What does Mill suggest as a solution for Utilitarianism to guide action successfully?

Mill’s response to issues with calculation.

Answer 17

Mill suggests that Utilitarianism can guide action successfully by relying on principles and rules conducive to happiness, even though perfect adherence to the principle of utility is unattainable.

Question 18

How does Mill propose society should approach the improvement of its principles and rules?

Mill’s response to issues with calculation.

Answer 18

Mill advocates for societal progressiveness, where principles and rules are retrospectively assessed and improved based on new knowledge and understanding, allowing for continual refinement towards maximizing happiness.

Question 19

What is the role of societal progressiveness in Mill’s view of Utilitarianism?

Mill’s response to issues with calculation.

Answer 19

Societal progressiveness, according to Mill, ensures that principles and rules are continually refined based on advancements in knowledge and understanding, contributing to the ongoing improvement of happiness-maximizing principles.

Question 20

How does Mill envision Utilitarianism continuing to work better over time?

Mill’s response to issues with calculation.

Answer 20

Mill suggests that Utilitarianism can continue to work better over time as society discovers more about biology, psychology, sociology, and politics, enabling more effective strategies for maximizing happiness.

Question 21

What approach does Mill adopt in cases of conflict of rules?

Mill’s response to issues with calculation.

Answer 21

Mill advocates for judging individual actions by the principle of utility in cases of conflict between rules, while emphasizing the consideration of both the quality and quantity of the pleasure they could produce.

Question 22

How does Mill suggest enhancing Bentham’s approach to resolving conflicts of rules?

Mill’s response to issues with calculation.

Answer 22

Mill suggests that in addition to considering the quantity of pleasure, the quality of pleasure should also be taken into account when judging individual actions in cases of conflict between rules.

Question 23

What is emphasized in Mill’s approach to judging individual actions?

Mill’s response to issues with calculation.

Answer 23

Mill emphasizes the importance of considering the tendencies of actions and their potential consequences when judging individual actions, without requiring exact predictions of outcomes.

Question 24

How does Mill’s approach differ from Bentham’s regarding resolving conflicts of rules?

Mill’s response to issues with calculation.

Answer 24

Mill’s approach differs from Bentham’s by adding the consideration of the quality of pleasure in addition to quantity when judging individual actions in cases of conflict between rules.

Question 25

What principle does Mill believe can guide the judgment of individual actions?

Mill’s response to issues with calculation.

Answer 25

Mill believes that the principle of utility can guide the judgment of individual actions, allowing for the consideration of both the quantity and quality of pleasure they could produce without necessitating exact predictions of consequences.

Question 26

How does Mill propose measuring the quality of pleasure?

Mill’s response to issues with calculation.

Answer 26

Mill suggests investigating people’s preferences and observes that people generally prefer higher pleasures to lower ones, except when influenced by addiction or weakness of character.

Question 27

What does Mill believe about people’s preferences regarding pleasure?

Mill’s response to issues with calculation.

Answer 27

Mill believes that people consistently prefer higher pleasures over lower ones, indicating a qualitative distinction between different types of pleasure experiences.

Question 28

When do people tend to prefer lower pleasures, according to Mill?

Mill’s response to issues with calculation.

Answer 28

Mill suggests that people may prefer lower pleasures when influenced by addiction or weakness of character, deviating from their usual preference for higher pleasures.

Question 29

How does Mill’s approach to measuring pleasure quality differ from Bentham’s quantitative approach?

Mill’s response to issues with calculation.

Answer 29

Mill’s approach focuses on qualitative distinctions between higher and lower pleasures based on people’s preferences, while Bentham’s approach primarily considers the quantity of pleasure produced by different actions.

Question 30

What role do people’s preferences play in Mill’s understanding of pleasure quality?

Mill’s response to issues with calculation.

Answer 30

People’s preferences serve as indicators of the quality of pleasure experiences, with higher pleasures being consistently preferred over lower ones, except in cases of addiction or weakness of character.