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
What is Preference Utilitarianism?
argues that people should be allowed to PURSUE their PREFERENCES as long as this DOESN’T INTERFERE with ANYONE ELSE’S PURSUIT of HAPPINESS
What does a Preference Approach focus on?
MINIMISING SUFFERING and harm RATHER THAN INCREASING PLEASURE
What does Peter Singer argue about Utilitarianism?
the PREFERENCES OF ALL persons should be TAKEN into ACCOUNT
What are 2 STRENGTHS of Utilitarianism?
- IT’S PROGRESSIVE - Utilitarianism has been a progressive morality that has enabled out of date ideas, such as the banning of homosexual acts or the oppression of women, to be challenged. Utilitarianism thinkers have been at the forefront of these changes.
- IT’S DEMOCRATIC - Everyone’s happiness is taken into account and each person counts as one in decision making. There are no favourites or special exemptions. In theory, presidents and paupers are treated alike.
What are 3 CRTICISMS of Utilitarianism?
- THE SWINE ETHIC PROBLEM : Bentham’s utilitarianism was called a swine ethic as it seemed to permit such horrors such as gang rape ( in theory ). Although this wasn’t intended by Bentham, and may be answered by later versions of the theory, the worry remains that there are no absolute boundaries in and horrors such as the torture of children may be permitted in extreme situations.
- UTILITARIANISM REQUIRES PREDICITION OF THE FUTURE - In order to establish what the greater good will be, we have to predict future consequences. Yet the future isn’t always clear. The baby we may save may turn out to be a cruel dictator
- ## PLEASURE AND PAIN MAY BE DEPEDNANT ON THE INDIVDIDUAL - We may have different views on what leads to happiness. This may make Singer’s version, based on satisfying preferences , a more viable option than classical utilitarianism
