Utilitarianism Flashcards
What is Utilitarianism?
Ethics that argues that EVERYTHING you DO and EVERY DECISION you make SHOULD be BASED on trying to ACHIEVE the GREATEST amount of PLEASURE for the GREATEST number of PEOPLE
What type of theory is Utilitarianism?
TELELOGICAL - it’s concerned with the outcome of an action
What are the 2 Main Theorists for Utilitarianism?
Jeremy BENTHAM
John Stuart MILL
What type of Utilitarianism is Bentham’s?
Bentham’s is QUANTITATIVE - mainly interested in the QUANITITY OF PLEASURE produced
What 2 things does BENTHAM think HUMAN BEINGS are motivated by?
We’re motivated by PLEASURE and PAIN
What is Bentham’s UTILITY PRINCIPLE?
the idea that WE SHOULD DO WHATEVER is useful in terms of INCREASING OVERALL GOOD and DECREASING EVIL
What is Bentham’s HEDONIC CALCULUS?
a MATHEMATICAL WAY of CALCULATING the OVERALL PLEASURE and PAIN INVOLVED
What are the 7 Factors in Bentham’s HEDONIC CALUCLUS that we should consider when making a moral decision?
- INTENSITY - how strong is the pleasure or pain involved
- DURATION - how long will the pleasure or pain last?
- CERTAINITY - how sure are we that the anticipated pleasure or pain will occur
- PROPINQUITY - how soon will the pleasure or pain occur
- FECUNDITY - how likely is that the pleasure will lead to further pleasures
- PURITY - how likely is it that pain will result from the original pleasure
- EXTENT - how many people will be affected
What type of Utilitarianism is MILL’S?
QUALITATIVE - emphasises the QUALITY of the PLEASURE rather than quantity
What are the Types of Pleasure according the Mill?
explain
HIGHER PLEASURES - INTELLECTUAL and SOCIAL pleasures that ONLY HUMAN BEING CAN ENJOY, e.g. intellectual conversation or enjoyment of art
LOWER PLEASURES - these are PLEASURES of the BODY that both humans and other creatures enjoy such as food, sleep and sex
argues that higher pleasures are more important
What is Mill’s Non-Harm Principle?
Each INDIVIDUAL should be FREE to LIVE as they choose, SO LONG AS they do not CAUSE HARM TO OTHERS
What is Act Utilitarianism?
the idea that we should ALWAYS PERFORM the ACT that LEADS to the GREATEST BALANCE of GOOD OVER EVIL
takes situations on a case-by-case basis
different answers to the same action, depending on the situation or context
What are 1 Strength of Act UT?
- CASE BY CASE decision making ALLOWS FLEXIBILITY, recognising that no two situation are the same
What is Rule Utilitarianism?
the idea that we should ALWAYS FOLLOW the rule that generally leads to the GREATEST BALANCE of good over evil FOR SOCIETY RATHER than the INDIVIDUAL
rules aren’t fixed
rules can be changed if society changes
What are 2 Strengths of Rule UT
- offers a QUICKER APPROACH to DECISION MAKING than Act UT as it recognises that case-by-case decision making is unnecessary and very time consuming
- allows us to MAKE RULES that should UPHOLD JUSTICE and RIGHTS