Section 2

Question 1

Teleological (or Consequentialist) Ethics?

Answer 1

The right or wrong of human actions is DETERMINED BY WHETHER OR NOT THEY PRODUCE GOOD OR BAD RESULTS. Taps into a common sense attitude. EX:drop bomb on Jap to end war. Lie to mom about dinner. Greek word meaning “Goal”

Question 2

Deontological Ethics

Answer 2

right or wrong of human actions NOT based on production of good or bad results. Non-consequentialist grounds: Rules, Reasons, Principles of Justice. EX: Dont lie to mom, rules

Question 3

Bentham v. Kant Chief Differences

Answer 3

Bentham- Ethics depends on outcome

Kant- ethics can be universal, unconditional

Question 4

Intrinsic Good

Answer 4

Something desirable for its own sake, end in itself

Question 5

Instrumental Good

Answer 5

something desirable for NOT own sake, Means to an end

Question 6

Utilitarianism?

Answer 6

sole standard of right, wrong, and obligation is the principle of utility, which holds that in everything we do we should try to bring about the greatest possible balance of good over evil (or least possible balance of evil over good) for a society as a whole.

Question 7

How is utilitarianism clearly a kind of conswquentialism?

Answer 7

Consequentialism examines the results similarly and deicdes what is right based on them.

Question 8

What does Bentham mean by “good” and “evil” in his definition of utilitarianism?

Answer 8

Bentham is a hedonist so by his definition of “good” he means what brings about pleasure, and “evil” is what brings about pain.

Question 9

Title of Benthams Book? WHy is it revealing about his vision for ethics?-

Answer 9

• Principles of Morals and Legislation
• Shows that he wants to make ethics a universal thing that applies to everyon. It contained what he thought should happen for a better ethics.

Question 10

Bentham wants to eliminate the influence of religion, rules, and rights on ethical reasoning. Why?

Answer 10

Religion- coulds minds, need science to progress
Rules- get in the way, interfere with results
Rights- prohibit progress, comes from religion, get rid of religion and gets rid of rights
-A better society is greater than once’s happiness. They stand in the way of Utilitarianism

Question 11

How might utilitarians evaluate crime and punishment? Economics? Vegetarianism?

Answer 11

Crime and Punishment- Rehabilitation would be more beneficial to society because we will be able to improve them and return them back into society. It is better than corporal or capital punishment that causes pain.
Economics- Free market economy. Lots of govt. reg. to initiate change, Socialistic= Utilitarism today
Vegetarianism- One does not need to eat meat to survive. Animal slaughter causes pain (evil) and is brutal. Bentham sould say begetarian is more moral because animals have moral consideration.

Question 12

Why Bentham believe that animals are entitled to moral consideration?

Answer 12

Becasue animals are sentient beings so they can feel pain and pain is evil.

Question 13

John Stuart Mill, Benthams disciple, wrote a profoundly influential book titled On Liberty. As a utilitarian, how would Mill argue for lliberty?

Answer 13

Mill might argue for liberty as a utilitarian by saying it is more beneficial to let others choose their own process. it is better for everyone when we get to pick individually. as long as you arent harming anyone

Question 14

J.S.Mill with his wife Harriet Taylor, Mill wrote a pioneering work in feminism titled THe Subjection of Women. How could Mill be a feminist if he doesnt believe in womens rights?

Answer 14

Mill does not believe in rights as a utilitarian. He believes that women and men should be treated equally so they can both properly contribute to society. Espically since we want to produce the BEST world. Best interests.

Question 15

Bentham and Mill are hedonists. What is hedonism as a philosophical theory?

Answer 15

Hedonism- the belief that the only intrinsic good is pleasure

Question 16

What are the chief precepts (or defining teachings) or hedonism?

Answer 16

• Happiness=Pleasure
• All pleasures are intrinsically good (although some pleasures might be morally bad (child molesters, drugs)
• Only pleasure is intrinsically good (although some pains may be morally good (surgery , training)

Question 17

How does Benthams “quantitative hedonism” differ from Mills “qualitative hedonism”

Answer 17

• Bentham & Quantitative Hedonism; the intrinsic goodness of something is proportionate to the amount of pleasure it contains. Put numbers to hedonism- makes it scientific, measurable. All pleasures are measurable.– 100 units of pleasure from playing video game. 100 units of pleasure from reading shakesprear. They are the same
• Mill & Qualitative Hedonism: the intrinsic goodness of something depends on the kind or quality of goodness that it contains, NOT the amount.– 50 units of pleasure from being a human. 100 units of plesaure from being a pig. Bentham would say that it is better to be a pig. Mill would say that no, because quality of life as a pig isnt better than being a human

Question 18

From the point of view of hedonism, what is the difficulty with Mills qualitative hedonism?

Answer 18

If qualitative hedonism is right, then we must give up the idea of hedonism all together

Question 19

What are Aristotles objections against the first precept of hedonism?

Answer 19

Happiness does not equal pleasure when you examine the language; happiness is enduring, more profound, mental; pleasure suggests a state of satisfaction that is temporary, superficial, sensual. Example- she is a pleasant woman versus she is a soman of pleasure (NOT the same)

Question 20

What basic objections can be leveled against the 3rd precept of hedonism?

Answer 20

-“Only pleasure is intrinsically good” is clearly refuted. Arguments by conter-examples shows the absurdity of hedonism. The example of the backstabbing friend- hedonist says having friends is only instrumental to bring you pleasure–Loyal friend=5000 units of pleasure. Disloyal friend 10000 units of pleasure. You dont know the disloyal friend is this way. Bentham would say ths disloyal friend is best because you get more pleasure. But if you find out this friend is bad then it doesnt work. You wouldnt risk a relationship for pleasure. Pleasure is not the only intrinsic good.

Question 21

What does it follow that, if the third precept fails, hedonism fails?

Answer 21

Example of Planet A and Planet B. BOth have 10000 units of pleasure. Planet A is beautiful with wise people; Planet B is ugly with ignorant people. Most people whold pick Planet A becasue they value beauty and smarts. But hedonist would say that either is good becasue they have the same amount of pleasure.
-These disprove hedonism becasue it shows that we dont use it universally.

Question 22

A consequentialist must answer 2 fundamental questions, so as to clarify his position. What are these 2 questions and how are they relevant to the discussion of hedonism and of utilitarianism in Benthams philosophy?

Answer 22

• What is intrinsically good?–Desire fulfilled for its own sake
• For whom is the intrinsic good?–For the others; society- altruism/utilitarians
• Bentham uses hedonism to answer these questions: pleasure is the only good: for society- ends judstify the means to all of society

Question 23

A standard criticism of utilitarians is that is a kind of “end justifies the means” thinking. What is wrong with thinking that “the end justifies the means”?

Answer 23

This philosophy is often used to justify the worst atrocities in history; it allows one to excuse any actions

Question 24

There are 6 standard Criticims of Utilitarianism: quantifying value, predicting consequences, distrubing the good, justice, personal responsibility, duties to oneself. How can one summarize each of these criticisms.

Answer 24

• Quantifying Value- There is no way to quantify the value of intrinisc goods- nothing is greater/less than/ equal to in cases of love
• Predicting Consequences- there is no way to guarantee results- government programs to fix poverty but poverty still exists
• Distributing the Good- The greatest good for the greatest number sounds democratic but it is often used to justify injustices to individuals or groups.
• Justice- it must be a part of ethics, must have responsibility for our actions and what we deserve. -We want to eliminate religion, rules, and rights. Kant says to do the right thing and let consequences work out.
• Personal Responsibility- looking at the “numbers” waives the view of personal responsibility for the injustices we commit
• Duties to Oneself- forves one to put the society as a whole above individual consideration/justice

Question 25

What is the “utilitarian trap”? Do you agree that Jim and Sophie fell into the trap?

Answer 25

• Utilitarian Trap- rationalize doing something bad/evil whether there is a good or bad outcome. If you cant maximize the good; minimize the evil. It makes the moral thing appear immoral because of how it is presented.
• Sophie and Jim both fell into the trap because the injustices they committed were not their duty, but they did them becasue it appeared to be the right thing based on numbers- not the actual act itself (children and chemical warfare company)

Question 26

Why is the American Consititution and anti-utilitarian doc?

Answer 26

Because it guarentees citizens rights that utilitarian philosophy does not allow. Cant interfere with basic rights

Question 27

What does Kant mean when he says “2 things amaze me: The starry heavens above and the moral law within”?

Answer 27

• Greek philosophy begins in wonder- Newton wondered at physics and invented physics.
• Wants to invent science to explain wonder: when you make it a science you dont wonder amymore- it is explained (the science= logic)

Question 28

What does it mean to say Kant wants to be to ethics what Euclid is to geometry and Newton is to physics?

Answer 28

• Newton-Physics, Euclid-Geometry, Kant-Ethics
• Kant wants to be the founder; the one who makes ethics into a measurable science like they did with geometry and physics.

Question 29

Why is it even more revealing to say that Kant wants to be to ethics what Aristotle is to logic?

Answer 29

Aristotle created a science, absolute, universally true logic. Kant wants to show that ethics is also a science. If logic is a science, and ethics can be reduced to logic, ethics can be a science too.

Question 30

Why, according to Kant, is a Good Will necessary to guarantee that an action is really moral?

Answer 30

Good will is the resolve to do something becasue it is the right thing to do. The good will is the only time that good and right (morally) are synonyms. Moral credit for decision making depends on pure sincerity to do something simply because it is right.

Question 31

What is Categorical Imperative? Why does Kant say everything human mind out to be governed by the Categorical Imperative in moral decision making?

Answer 31

• Categoical Imperative- a way to deem if an action is moral or not. Be logical! If youre not logical you arent human. You have to test to make sure your thinking makes sense. Logic is the same for everyone.
• Ethics should be universal- takes the ethical question to a universal level: what if everyone did it???
• Every human should use it becasue it reminds us of logical nature as applied to others AND it provides a test to determine whether were being rational.

Question 32

Why does Kant say that the categorical imperative implies that human beings have Autonomy and Dignity? Kant says that governments purpose is to produce a “Kingdom of Ends” Why?

Answer 32

• If we all have the same access to the same way of determining right/wrong, then we dont have the right to decide how someone else should live
• Autonomy- people should live their own lives. Freedom/ability to rule oneself.
• Dignity- comes from the mentioned independence. If someone uses you as a means to an end then they are ignoring your dignity (you become a thing)
• A kingdom of ends protects the dignity and autonomy of humans becasue they dont need the government to decide what is right/wrong. Wh are capable of doing that ourselves.

Question 33

Why would Kant agree with John Locke that the only real justification of government is the consent of the people

Answer 33

Kant would agree becasue he believes that the value of government comes from the consent of the governed since we are self-legislative and dont need the government to tell us what to do. The only reason the government exists is because we allow it to.

Question 34

Kant’s political philosophy is an expression of “social contract theory” What is social contract theory?

Answer 34

Social Contract Theory- The idea that we consent to following the rules on the principle that others will respect the same rules to keep the social environment under control.

Question 35

Kant’s ethics is about negative, rather than positive, duties. How so?

Answer 35

• Kants ehtics is about negative duties becasue it tells what one should not do and implies that if someone does not want to help, even if they need it, we should respect their wishes and leave them alone.
• Positive duties would imply that we are obligated to help others even if they dont want it.

Question 36

Why does Kant say that Bentham reduces people to things not persons?

Answer 36

• Based on Bentham, the human person does not have intrinisc value (only pleasure) except for it use by others.
• Reduced to a thing because things are meant to be used, not people
• Does not respect the inherent value of personhood- no one counts more than another

Question 37

Kant says that the moral community includes human beings only. Why would Kant not accept Benthams inclusion of animals in the moral community?

Answer 37

• Kant would not accept animals into the moral community because he believes that being moral is synonymous with being rational, with being human- along with that comes being autonomous.
• Animals are not autonomous and cannot be part of the moral community

Question 38

Unlike Bentham, Kant encouranges punishment, not rehabilitation of criminals. He even demands capital punishment in relevant cases. Why?

Answer 38

• Kant thinks you should punish criminals equivalent to their crime. It robs them of their dignity/autonomy if you dont.
• Kant believes that we all have the same ability to reason what is right and wrong; should be punished becasue we committed a wrong and we were rewarede for doing the right.

Question 39

Why, according to Kant is deterrence not the most important concern in the debateabout corporal or capital punishment

Answer 39

• You should only punish people for what they deserve
• Deterrence punishes for others to prevent them from committing a crime is not a good reason to overtly punish one individual.