Sexual ethics - Utilitarianism Flashcards
What does Bentham say about public and private pleasures?
Sometimes coincide but majority pleasure tends to prioritise Public pleasure
What does Bentham say about talk of rights?
All talk of rights is “nonsense upon stilts”
How does Bentham criticise Mill’s higher pleasures?
Happiness is not necessarily higher pleasures - all pleasures are the same - pushpin is as good as poetry
What type of society was Mill in favour of?
Envisaged as free and liberal society
What did Mill say about individuals?
Individuals who are different should be protected
What did Mill fight for?
Women’s rights and human rights - didn’t like a minority being exploited at the expense of the majority. Rules to protect majority.
What was one of Mill’s fundamental principles?
No harm principle
How did Bentham’s view on pleasures apply to sexual ethics?
All pleasures are the same - could justify premarital sex - casual and committed, traffickers using underage sex if they gain majority happiness - but would it be good for society?
How would the Hedonic calculus view adultery?
Might allow adultery but not good for society - breaks down so unlikely.
What was Bentham’s view on homosexuality?
Rights are nonsense so rights of homosexuals would count for nothing if a law banning homosexual sex has majority happiness, but Bentham did agree with homosexuality as it gave no harm in his view.
What was Mill’s view on premarital sex?
Agreed with contraception and women’s rights so for premarital sex possibly if no harm caused. Not underage sex as harmful so rules need be applied here as matter of public interest.
What was Mill’s view on adultery?
Not encouraging of higher pleasures for mill and could causes harm to society. Did not disagree generally with it but did not like it if it exploited women. No public law on adultery as private matter nonetheless. Individual freedom limited - no sex in public places if harms society.
What was Mill’s view on homosexuality?
No harms caused and rights - laws allowing it.
What was Singer’s approach to sexual ethics?
True preferences matter - try to aim for majority preferences and when people are ignorant e.g. in cases of adultery their preferences still matter.
How has Singer become more influential in secular attitudes today?
Based on scientific approach - nature is to be happy. There is no imposed morality from the Catholic Church now because science has show religious beliefs to be possibly false, so instead there is more personal choice now
