Utilitarianism

Question 1

What does utilitarianism look to create ?

Answer 1

The greatest good for the greatest number

Question 2

What principle does utilitarianism apply to moral problems?

Answer 2

Principle of utility

Question 3

Is utilitarianism deontological or teleological

Answer 3

Teleological

Question 4

Is utilitarianism about religion

Answer 4

No it is apart from religion

Question 5

Challenges to utilitarianism

Answer 5

It permits us to break rules and doesn’t provide a basis for fairness and justice
Relies heavily on being able to know the future consequences of actions
Assumes shared or common interests whereas people might be more diverse in their preferences / pleasures

Question 6

What factors are considered in Bentham’s Hedonic calculus

Answer 6

Intensity
Duration
Propinquity (how near it is)
Certainty
Fecundity (how much it will lead to pleasure of same type)
Purity (how free from pain)
Extent (how many will gain pleasure)

Question 7

Are all pleasures ‘equal’ according to Bentham and Mill

Answer 7

Yes says Bentham

No says Mill

Question 8

What issues arise for minorities in utilitarianism

Answer 8

Indiscriminate acts can be justified if the majority benefit - e.g. murdering a patient for their organs
Can lead to persecution of minorities
Can lead to torture and gang rape being morally justified

Question 9

What is the goal of the hedonic calculus

Answer 9

To calculate the balance between pleasure and pain, and the evil and good that results from any action.

Question 10

What’s the difference between Bentham and Mill’s utilitarianisms

Answer 10

Bentham measures happiness in quantitive terms only.
John Stuart Mill applies qualitative pains and pleasures
Mill thinks some kinds of pain and pleasure are worth more then others

Question 11

Who came up with the idea of higher and lower pleasures and why

Answer 11

John Stuart mill
He thought humans were above animals and were able to experience more intellectual parts of life
He thought many would be disgusted at the suggestion that morality was about base pleasures

Question 12

What are Act utilitarians driven by

Answer 12

The utility (balance of good and evil done) I’m each individual situation

Question 13

Describe an act utilitarian approach

Answer 13

Taking each individual action that a person faces and making a judgment about the balance of good and evil done in that particular situation

Question 14

Give to examples of things justified by act utilitarianism

One positive one negative

Answer 14

Lying to your wife about adultry to maximise your pleasures

Lying to Nazi officer about hidden Jews to protect them

Question 15

What does rule utilitarianism seek to do

Answer 15

Set up a series of rules that will maximise the greatest good for the greatest number

Question 16

Describe a rule utilitariansts thoughts on lying and the benefits to this

Answer 16

Always tell the truth as this is generally better for everyone, even if there are particular instances where a lie might be individually desirable

Question 17

Pros of act utilitarianism

Answer 17

It has method in its application of the of the hedonic calculus.
It is a morally academic approach that seeks the fairest result.
The calculus is thorough in its consideration of measuring aspects of pleasure.

Question 18

Cons of act utilitarianism

Answer 18

very time consuming
In a society where lying can be deemed okay, there would be no trust
The calculus does not prioritise or rank aspects of pleasure and so can lead to confusion.
Bentham’s hedonic calculus could justify immoral acts such as the case of the sadistic guards or gang **.

Question 19

Does utilitarianism provide a helpful method of moral decision making
Arguments for

Answer 19

Not religious so can be applied by all as it suggests moral problems can be solved through a reasonable process, rather then a religious theory
It’s basic desire for the greatest amount of happiness for largest amount of people does seem reasonable - who wouldn’t want a happy life

Question 20

Does utilitarianism provide a helpful method of moral decision making
Arguements against

Answer 20

Relies on us being able to see into the future to review what the consequences of our actions were and which ones will bring the most pleasure
Surely some act can never be justified - rape?
We must need some rules that can never be broken
Minority can easily be persecuted which we know to be wrong

Question 21

What does Peter Singers preference utilitarianism argue

Answer 21

We all have different aims in our lives and different things that we consider important
People should be able to pursue their preferences as long as this doesn’t interfere with anyone else’s pursuit of happiness

Question 22

Advantage of Peter singers preference utilitarianism

Answer 22

Allows individuals to pursue their own interests and not be restricted to whatever the majority deems to be happiness
Avoids ‘tyranny of the majority’ problem Bentham faces
Retains flexibility as not tied to Rule Utilitarianism