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Question 1

Define ‘Utilitarianism’.

Answer 1

Utilitarianism is the theory that the most morally right action is the action that maximises overall utility.

Question 2

State the claims in ‘Utilitarianism’.

Answer 2

(MAIN) The most morally right action is the action that maximises overall utility.
1) consequentialism - The moral rightness of an action depends only on its effects.
2) Consciousness - Things are morally right/wrong solely because of their effects on conscious/sentient beings who care about how they feel / what happens.
3) Impartiality - All conscious beings are to be included when we are considering the effects of an action and none have any more/less importance than any other.
4) Maximisation - The morally right action is the action that maximises overall utility.

Question 3

Define ‘Utility’.

Answer 3

Utility means usefulness, and in utilitarianism, has two interpretations:
1) Pleasure
2) Satisfaction of Preferences

Question 4

Summarise ‘Jeremy Bentham’s Quantitative Hedonistic Utilitarianism’.

Answer 4

Jeremy Bentham’s Utilitarianism is a Consequentialist theory in Normative Ethics that proposes that the most morally right action is the action that maximises the balance of pleasure over pain.

Question 5

State the claims in ‘Jeremy Bentham’s Quantitative Hedonistic Utilitarianism’.

Answer 5

1) Utilitarianism
2) Hedonism - The view that only pleasure is what is most useful.
3) Quantitative - The view that pleasure and pain is only to be measured based on its quantity using the ‘utility calculus’ , which includes…
- Intensity
- Duration
- Certainty
- Propinquity (How far removed it is in time)
- Fecundity (Will it produce more)
- Purity (Does it cause both pleasure and pain)
- Extent (How many being it will affect)

Question 6

Define ‘Psychological Hedonism’.

Answer 6

Psychological Hedonism is the view that only pleasure and pain motivate us.

Question 7

Define ‘Ethical Hedonism’.

Answer 7

Ethical Hedonism is the view that only pleasure has moral value and only pain has moral disvalue.

Question 8

Summarise ‘John Stuart Mill’s Qualitative Hedonistic Utilitarianism’.

Answer 8

John Stuart Mill’s Utilitarianism is a Consequentialist theory in Normative Ethics that proposes that the most morally right action is the action that maximises the balance of pleasure over pain, taking the quality of the pleasures into consideration.

Question 9

State the claims in ‘John Stuart Mill’s Qualitative Hedonistic Utilitarianism’.

Answer 9

1) Utilitarianism
2) Hedonism - The view that only pleasure is what is most useful.
3) Qualitative - Pleasure is only to be measured based not only on its quantity but also (and more so) on the ‘quality’ of the pleasures. Higher pleasures are worth more than lower pleasures when deciding how to act.

Question 10

Summarize ‘John Stuart Mill’s proof of the greatest happiness principle’.

Answer 10

John Stuart Mill’s Utilitarianism is a Consequentialist argument in Normative Ethics that proposes that only happiness is desirable so it ought to be maximised.

Question 11

State ‘John Stuart Mill’s proof of the greatest happiness principle’ in standard form.

Answer 11

P1: The only and best possible evidence for something being desirable is that it is desired.
P2: Each person’s happiness is desired by them.
C1: Therefore, we have the best evidence we could have that each person’s happiness is desirable to themselves.
C2: Therefore, happiness in general is desirable.
P3: Only happiness is desirable for its own sake.
P4: Whatever is desirable for its own sake is morally valuable and so ought to be maximised.
C3: Therefore, the right action is that action which tends to maximise the general happiness.

Question 12

State what type of argument ‘John Stuart Mill’s proof of the greatest happiness principle’ is.

Answer 12

1) Non-Deductive - As it does not follows with logical necessity, but instead high certainty.
2) A Posteriori - As the premises are justified by experience.

Question 13

Define ‘Higher Pleasures’.

Answer 13

Higher Pleasures are pleasures caused by the higher faculties - Intellect, feelings and imagination, and moral sentiments.

Question 14

Define ‘Lower Pleasures’.

Answer 14

Lower Pleasures are pleasures cause by physical sensations.

Question 15

Define ‘Preference Utilitarianism’.

Answer 15

Preference Utilitarianism is the view that the morally right action is the action that maximises the satisfaction of preferences.

Question 16

Summarise ‘Non-Hedonistic Preference Utilitarianism’.

Answer 16

Preference Utilitarianism is a Consequentialist theory in Normative Ethics that proposes that the most morally right action is the action that maximises the satisfaction of preferences.

Question 17

State the claims in ‘Preference Utilitarianism’.

Answer 17

1) Utilitarianism
2) Non-Hedonistic - Does not refer to the view that pleasure is the most useful.
3) Preference-Based - What matters is whether things are the way that people prefer them to be / things align with their desires.

Question 18

Define ‘Act Utilitarianism’.

Answer 18

Act Utilitarianism is the view that the morally right action is the one that produces the most utility (actions are judged on a case by case basis).

Question 19

Define ‘Rule Utilitarianism’.

Answer 19

Rule Utilitarianism is the view that the morally right action is the one that is in accordance with the set of rules which, if accepted, produces the most utility (Actions are judged based on their conformity to predetermined rules).