Rule Utilitarianism (Mill)

Question 1

Mill’s rule utilitarianism

Answer 1

Also believed in Bentham’s principle of utility and in hedonism, but he saw 2 flaws in Bentham’s Act utilitarianism; act utilitarianism can be used to justify terrible actions and act utilitarianism is too complex to be used in practice (especially the hedonic calculus).

Question 2

Flaws in act utilitarianism

Answer 2

Can be used to justify terrible actions- a peadophile videos himself raping a child, he sends it to more peadophiles, this will produce more pleasure than pain.
It is too complex to be used in practice- ethical decisions need to be made quickly, Bentham realised and said it was an ideal but then how useful/helpful is this theory if no one fully uses it.

Question 3

Mills rule utilitarianism overview

Answer 3

Higher vs lower pleasures
The harm principle
Rules in utilitarianism

Question 4

Higher versus lower pleasures

Answer 4

Benthams Act was purely quantitative- all pleasures are equal to each other, its only the amount that matters. However Mill argued that both the quantity and the quality of pleasure are important for ethical decision making. He developed 2 categories.
Higher pleasures- Pleasures of the mind (love, friends, forgiveness)
Lower pleasures- Pleasures of the body (sex, indulging in food, violence).

Question 5

Mill quote about higher vs lower pleasures

Answer 5

” it’s better to be a human being dissatisfied than a pig satisfied”

Question 6

The harm principle

Answer 6

He believed that individuals in society should have the liberty to pursue pleasure as they see fit, however he believed that there had to be a limit on liberty, to prevent extremely harmful actions. However this principle doesn’t apply to children or ‘uncivilised’ adults.

Question 7

Rules in utilitarianism

Answer 7

Mill believed that the best way to achieve the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people in society was by everyone following rules. Ethically good actions are following a rule that creates the maximum amount of happiness for the maximum number of people. Ethically bad if breaking a rule that creates the maximum amount of happiness. The harm principle is an example of a rule.

Question 8

Whichrules should we follow?

Answer 8

Mill didn’t create a specific set of rules for society to follow, he thought that the rules are mostly simple and obvious to most people (eg. don’t steal). Mill suggested the harm principle as a rule which would maximise happiness across society.

Question 9

Act versus rule- traffic lights

Answer 9

Act (Bentham) we should decide whether to stop at a red light based on the situation at that time.
Rule (Mill) We should follow the rule of stopping at the red light, even if theres no chance of an accident.

Question 10

Act versus rule- abortion

Answer 10

Act (Bentham) we should consider each case individually, looking at pleasures/pains involved.
Rule (Mill) we should all follow a set of rules, eg. no abortion after 24 weeks.

Question 11

Weak rule utilitarianism

Answer 11

Mill accepted that sometimes the rules could be broken, only in extreme cases where the rules would create a large amount of pain. Eg. Driving through a red light to avoid an accident. This means his theory is weak rather than strong.

Question 12

How does Mill address the flaws in Bentham’s theory

Answer 12

Can be used to justify terrible actions- in actions like rape/torture, the pleasures are lower so don’t justify the pain caused.
Act utilitarianism is too complex to be used in practice- Rule utilitarianism is much simpler, just involves remembering a set of simple rules.