Jeremy Bentham - ACT

Question 1

Bentham’s Hedonic Calculus

Answer 1

• Intensity
• Duration
• Certainty
• Remoteness
• Fecundity
• Purity

Question 2

Which type of Util is he?

Answer 2

Act Utilitarian, quantative, hedonistic

Question 3

good=

Answer 3

more pleasure, less pain

Question 4

Srengths of Hedonic Calculus

Answer 4

• focuses on ends/concequences
• concequences matter
• recognises emtions and feelings
• we are pain/pleasure mechanisms
• helps us to maximise pleasure and minimise pain
• pleasures are taken equally - “pushpin is equal to poetry”

Question 5

Weaknesses of Hedonic Calculus

Answer 5

• problems with justice
• reason must dictate the passions
• we do not know the future - this is the problem of unintended cncequences
• we are more than pain pleasure mechanisms (assumption)
• pleasure is not the most important factor. Could be happiness/goodness

Question 6

Benefit of Act Util

Answer 6

Flexible - you can take into account individual situations, although the actions that it justifies can change.

Question 7

Negatives of Act Util

Answer 7

• Has the potential to justify virtually any act if the result generates the most happiness e.g. terrorist attack.
• It’s important to suggest tat we should measure each and every moral choice each time, especially as we may not have all the information required by the hedonic calculus.

Question 8

Bentham Quote

Answer 8

“all talk of rights is nonsense on stilts”