non-hedonistic utilitarianism

Question 1

non-hedonistic utilitarianism

Answer 1

classic utilitarianism aim to maximise happiness.

preference utilitarianism suggest an action should be judged by how it conforms to the preference of all those affected by the action and its consequences.

a good act is one which maximizes the satisfactions of the preferences of all those involved.

Question 2

manifest preference and true preference

Answer 2

• Manifest preference- what you prefer based on immediate desires and needs
• True preference- what you prefer based on reflecting on all information known and on the likely consequence.

True preferences are those that a person would accept if they were fully informed reflective and vividly aware of the consequences of satisfying their preference.

Question 3

trade offs

Answer 3

Singer believes that all ethical decisions are based on ‘trade-offs dependent on empirical calculations’
- One of the strengths of utilitarianism is that it doesn’t give a clear-cut answer of what is right and wrong but provides a means of approaching ethical issues.

• Society is made up of a collect of individuals each with their own preferences.

Question 4

advantages

Answer 4

most peoples preferences to be pain free is far stronger than their preference for gaining pleasure.

reason why it is morally better to help those suffering than it is to make non suffering people happier.

Question 5

criticisms- At what stage do you judge people’s preferences?

Answer 5

During the manifest preference stage or the true preference stage

Question 6

criticism- Who decides whether a preference is manifest or true?

Answer 6

Critics have called this a paternalistic feature of preference utilitarianism: it assumes that the preference of policy makers and so-called experts are true while those of non-expert are just manifest, because the experts know more

Question 7

criticism- preferences are not static

Answer 7

People change and therefore so do their preferences. Preference is therefore a consequence of what is available rather than what people really prefer or want i.e., think nonculture UK vs cultured UK.

Question 8

criticism- Concepts of love and relationships are absent.

Answer 8

Preference utilitarianism is based on the maximisation of preference on universalizability the idea that the individual will prefer something because it is good not just for that individual but for all individuals- this is called principle of equal consideration of interest

Question 9

criticism- Universalizability of preference and the principle of equal consideration of interest raise a further issue.

Answer 9

Welfare is a central feature of preference utilitarianism. Preferences are formed on the basis that what you prefer will benefit everyone- e.g. A person’s preference for inexpensive jeans will be beneficial to those who produce the jeans, the same as personal preference for eco-friendly commodities will benefit all- ‘greatest good of the greatest number’. Yet in a world of limited resources, it isn’t possible to accept a link between a person’s preference and the general welfare- e.g. A person may prefer expensive meals every day, which benefits those who produces them but would that preference disadvantage those living in poverty.

Question 10

criticism-Human beings don’t live a life of preferences.

Answer 10

Preference utilitarians believe that sentient beings are constantly making decisions. Anne Maclean argues that some moral judgements can be made rationally it is wrong to argue that all ethical decisions should be based on philosophical enquiry.

However, singer justifies his preference utilitarianism by arguing that when informed preference is fulfilled human beings enjoy a good life. This is what he desires for himself and therefore this must be logically true for all human beings, other things being equal

Question 11

criticism- bad preferences

Answer 11

should we maximise bad/ crazy preferences ?
david- psycho and wants to punch random strangers

first, other people’s preference not to be punched would be much stronger so it would be wrong to help.

second, david mental health issues we should consider what his preference might be after a suitable course of therapy. maybe his manifest desire but not true.

preference utilitarianism try to imagine an ideal view point.
they imagine the desires from the perspective that the person was well and had all the relevant knowledge.

Question 12

criticism- weighing up preferences

Answer 12

how do we do this?

bentham’s utilitarianism has the hedon cal but preference does not have an equivalent of this.

Question 13

What does preference utilitarianism fix?

Answer 13

Relation to the experience machine
Explain mill’s claims on higher and lower pleasures
Producing pleasure or decreasing pain?

Question 14

Relation to the experience machine

Answer 14

If Nozick is right, we prefer to be in touch with reality, but not because it brings us pleasure. Having this preference satisfied is valuable. For a preference to be satisfied, it must be satisfied in reality. It is not enough that the person thinks their preference is satisfied.

Question 15

Explain mill’s claims on higher and lower pleasures

Answer 15

He defends the distinction in terms of what people prefer. However, rather than talk about the value or quality of types of pleasure, we could argue that whatever people prefer is of more value to them – whether most people would prefer pleasures related to thought, feeling and imagination.

Question 16

Producing pleasure or decreasing pain?

Answer 16

The satisfaction of many of our preferences will bring us pleasure, but many will not. Bentham and Mill do not distinguish between producing happiness and decreasing pain. But are these morally equivalent? If people more strongly prefer not to suffer pain than to be brought pleasure, then that would explain the thought that it is more important not to cause harm. Or again, we can also argue that people have preferences about what happens after their death, e.g. to their possessions, and it is important to satisfy these as well, even though this cannot bring them any pleasure.