Morality - Utilitarianism

Question 1

Key Features

Answer 1

• Consequentialism
• Hedonism
• Equity

Question 2

Key Features:

Consequentialism

Answer 2

Morality is held in the consequences of an action

Question 3

Key Features:

Hedonism

Answer 3

Humans naturally seek pleasure. In util, pleasure is morally good and worth pursuing.

Question 4

Key Features:

Equity

Answer 4

Everyones pleasure and happiness is of equal importance

Question 5

Greatest Happiness Principle

Answer 5

The aim to maximise happiness and minimise pain for the majority - the goal for all utilitarians

Question 6

Bentham

2

Answer 6

• Regarded as founding father of Utilitarianism - created act
• Took a quantitive approach to pleasure - the more pleasure the better

Question 7

Bentham GHP Quote

Answer 7

“The greatest happiness of the greatest number”

Question 8

Act Utilitarianism

2

Answer 8

• Act utilitarian maintain that when possible the greatest happinesss principle must be applied directly to each individual moral situation
• When faced with a moral choice, I must decide which action will lead to the greatest happiness/good in this particular situation

Question 9

Hedonic Calculus Definition

Answer 9

A quasi-scientific way to quantify how much pleasure can be gained in an individual moral situation

Question 10

Hedonic Calculus Criteria

7

Answer 10

• Intensity
• Duration
• Certainty
• Propinquity
• Fecundity
• Purity
• Extent

Question 11

Hedonic Calculus Criteria:

Intensity

Answer 11

How strongly is the pleasure felt?

Question 12

Hedonic Calculus Criteria:

Duration

Answer 12

How long will the pleasure last?

Question 13

Hedonic Calculus Criteria:

Certainty

Answer 13

How likely is the pleasure to occur as expected?

Question 14

Hedonic Calculus Criteria:

Propinquity

Answer 14

How soon will the pleasure be felt?

Question 15

Hedonic Calculus Criteria:

Fecundity

Answer 15

How common is the pleasure?

Question 16

Hedonic Calculus Criteria:

Purity

Answer 16

Is the pleasure likely to be followed by pain?

Question 17

Hedonic Calculus Criteria:

Extent

Answer 17

How many people will be affected by the pleasure?

Question 18

Rule Utilitarianism

Answer 18

• Rule Utilitarianism advocates following general rule which, if everyone followed in all situations, would lead to the greatest overall happiness
• Examples of rule utilitarian rules are do not lie, do not steal, do not kill and protect the innocent

Question 19

Rule Utilitarianism:

Hard Rule

Answer 19

Insist that rules are never broken no matter the situation

Question 20

Rule Utilitarianism:

Soft Rule

Answer 20

Would involve deviating from fixed rules on some occassions if this lead to greater happiness

Question 21

John Stuart Mill

Answer 21

• Godson of Bentham
• Adapted utilitarianism as he believed the quality of pleasure should be considered over quantity

Question 22

Higher Pleasures

Answer 22

Intellectual pleasures exclusively enjoyed by humans (e.g. reading poetry, studying philosophy)

Question 23

Lower Pleasures

Answer 23

Animalistic pleasures we have in common with animals (e.g. eating, drinking)

Question 24

Competent Judge

Answer 24

• Have experienced both higher and lower pleaures and will always choose the higher ones - they will always consider quality and not just quantity
• Regard some pleasures are more valuable than others - Mill thought it was undeniable that human pleasures are superior to animalistic ones
• No person would choose to become like an animal - consistently choosing lower pleasures would be for a person to become like an animal or for an educated person to become ignorant

Question 25

Mill Quote

Answer 25

“It is better to be a human being dissatisifed than a pig satisfied; better to be socrates dissatisifed than a fool satisfied.”