philosophy

Question 1

utilitarian theory

Answer 1

Bentham - the greatest good for the greatest number, maximising utility is the ‘right’ thing to do - uses consequentialist moral reasoning, locating morality in the consequences of an act

Question 2

drawbacks of utilitarianism

Answer 2

• does not always respect individual rights - nozick issue with this - use patient healthy vs 5 sick analogy
• sometimes hard to do cost-benefit analysis as it is difficult to assign a value to a human life

Question 3

John Stuart Mill and Bentham differences

Answer 3

JSM said there could be ‘higher’ (moral or intellectual) and ‘lower’ (physical or sensory) pleasures if a person has experienced both - while Bentham disagreed and said all pleasures were of equal quality and should only be judged on intensity and duration

Question 4

libertarianism theory

Answer 4

a person owns themself - individuals have rights that are so far-reaching that they raise the question if the state can do anything at all - cannot override these rights

Question 5

what do libertarians oppose

Answer 5

• all redistribution of income - all tax unless it is very little to contribute to national defence (Nozick)
• public goods as they create the free rider problem
• coercion - it is the using of somone for general welfare which means the fact that we own ourselves is called into question

Question 6

locke relation to libertarianism

Answer 6

also agreed that there are some individual rights so far reaching governments cant override - natural rights
natural rights to life, liberty and private property

Question 7

what was locke’s state of nature?

Answer 7

a state where everyone is free, equal and governed by reason

Question 8

locke government by consent

Answer 8

there is conflict in the state of nature because of right of property
there is a social contract, consent to create a government that will serve people (not dominate them)
this government would need separation of exec and legislative powers
people have a right to revolt if this is not upheld

Question 9

locke continuity of consciousness

Answer 9

a person at one time is the same as the person at another time if the consciousness is the same

Question 10

hume, reed, kant on the self and consciousness

Answer 10

hume - unobservable self, just composed of experiences and perceptions - a bundle of thoughts and feelings
reed - self is simple and indivisible - identity remains constant despite changes in physical state or memories, immortal soul
kant - self consciousness is a requirement for interpreting experiences