Utilitarianism

Question 1

Teleological or deontological?

Answer 1

Teleological (concerned with the outcome. Goodness and badness is about the ends, rather than the actions).

Question 2

What does utilitarianism base decisions on?

Answer 2

Makes decisions based on how much pleasure, happiness or well-being is created and how much pain or unhappiness by any choice.

Question 3

What is utilitarianism generally about? Creating…

Answer 3

The greatest good for the greatest number.

Question 4

What quote does Bentham say?

Answer 4

‘It is the greatest happiness of the greatest number that is the measure of right and wrong’.

Question 5

What is meant by the utility?

Answer 5

The extent to which an act produces ‘benefit, advantage, pleasure, good, or happiness’ or prevents ‘the happening of mischief, pain, evil, or unhappiness’.

Question 6

Before doing an action, who must we consider?

Answer 6

We must consider the community and the sum of the interest of all the people in the community, not just the individual.

Question 7

Why is utilitarianism a relativist theory?

Answer 7

Because decisions are made relative to the ends, the results of good and evil caused.

Question 8

What does the hedonic calculus calculate?

Answer 8

The balance of pleasure, well-being or goodness, as opposed to pain or evil.

Question 9

What are two rules of the hedonic calculus?

Answer 9

• Individual benefit is not enough for utilitarianism.

- Rules that benefit the minority and leave the majority in pain are not good enough.

Question 10

What are the 7 factors that Bentham suggests to evaluate the balance of good and evil?

Answer 10

1) Its intensity.
2) Its duration.
3) Its certainty or uncertainty.
4) Its propinquity.
5) Its fecundity.
6) Its purity.
7) Its extent.

Question 11

What are two difficulties with Bentham?

Answer 11

• It can be argued that not all pleasures are measurable using the same ‘toolkit’.
• It can be argued that not everyone gains pleasure from similar things

Question 12

What do act utilitarians believe about decision-making?

Answer 12

Act utilitarians believe decisions should be made by individuals at each occasion, each action.

Question 13

What do rule utilitarians believe about decision-making?

Answer 13

Rule utilitarians believe decisions should be made about general issues and these utilitarian rules should then be followed.

Question 14

Act utilitarianism information.

Answer 14

• This approach means taking each individual action that any person faces, and making a judgement about the balance of good or evil done in that particular situation.
• It is individualistic.
• No duty to adopt a particular approach.
• Always seeks to maximise the greatest utility in every situation.

Question 15

Give an example of when an act utilitarian may find it better to lie in a situation.

Answer 15

Act utilitarianism justifies lying to a Nazi about a hidden Jewish family.

Question 16

What is another example of an action which act utilitarianism allows?

Answer 16

A driver breaking the speed limit to get a women in labour to hospital.

Question 17

What does rule utilitarianism seek?

Answer 17

To set up a series of rules that will generally maximise the greatest good for the greatest number: the greatest utility.

Question 18

What does rule utilitarianism focus on?

Answer 18

The general end of an action, so there may be occasions when, in a particular instance, more harm is done in that instance, but in the long-run more people will benefit.

Question 19

What do rule utilitarians provide?

Answer 19

A guide for people to know what to do. The rules take priority over my immediate situation.

Question 20

What is a disadvantage of rule utilitarianism?

Answer 20

There’s no guarantee that minority interests will be protected.

Question 21

Is Bentham interested in the quality or quantity of pleasure?

Answer 21

Quantity.

Question 22

Is Mill interested in the quality or quantity of pleasure?

Answer 22

Quality.

Question 23

What did Mill distinguish between?

Answer 23

Lower pleasures (drinking, sex, eating, rest) and higher pleasures (intellectual, aesthetic, social enjoyment, spirituality).

Question 24

What are three strengths of utilitarianism?

Answer 24

• It is secular (you don’t need to be religious, everyone can follow it).
• It benefits most people.
• It works well for large institutions (schools, hospitals, etc).

Question 25

What are three weaknesses of utilitarianism?

Answer 25

• What happens if pleasure is gained at the expense of the pain experienced by the minority? Is this justified?
• The hedonic calculus is not fit for purpose. It’s impractical.
• You cannot always accurately predict an outcome (e.g. Moscow Theatre Siege).