PHI 112-Test 2, Part 3-Utilitarianism

Question 1

How did people characterize Jeremy Bentham’s formulation of Utilitarianism in a negative way?

Answer 1

They referred to it as a “Pig philosophy.”

Question 2

Problems with Bentham’s theory

Answer 2

Too simplistic and too complex.

Question 3

Problems with act utilitarianism

Answer 3

Can’t do the necessary calculations to determine the correct act

Question 4

Act-utilitarianism

Answer 4

Act is right if it promotes the greatest good

Question 5

Problems with act-utilitarianism

Answer 5

Can’t do the necessary calculations to determine the correct act

Question 6

Rule-utilitarianism

Answer 6

Act is right if required by a rule, greater utility for society

Question 7

Mills popular saying

Answer 7

“Better Socrates dissatisfied than a pig satisfied.”

Question 8

Criticisms of ends justifying immoral means

Answer 8

You can justify any “means” (dismissing integrity, honesty, justice, etc. for the “end” (greatest good for greatest amount).

Question 9

Eudiaminstic utilitarianism

Answer 9

Higher order pleasures - intellectual social

Question 10

Hedonic calculus

Answer 10

A scheme created to figure out the best course of action (based on pleasure units, called “hedons”).

Question 11

Eudiaminstic utilitarianism

Answer 11

Happiness consist of higher order pleasures, for example, intellectual, social

Question 12

What is both a strength and weakness of utilitarianism?

Answer 12

It’s simplicity

Question 13

Whose system of utilitarianism was considered too simple and too complex - Bentham or Mill?

Answer 13

Bentham