Utilitarianism

Question 1

Utility

Answer 1

The property of an object or action in virtue which it tends to produce happiness

Question 2

Hedonistic utilitarianism

Answer 2

Bentham argued that the ultimate goal of all actions is to gain pleasure and avoid pain.

1. Psychological hedonism
2. Classical/hedonistic utilitarianism

Question 3

Psychological hedonism

Answer 3

A descriptive theory of human motivation. Claims that the individual’s potential potential please and avoidance of pain are sole aims of the individual’s actions.

Question 4

Classical hedonism

Answer 4

A moral theory that claims that a morally right action is the one that maximises the most happiness/ minimises pain

Question 5

Act utilitarianism

Answer 5

The theory that only happiness is good, and the right act is that maximises happiness. Hedonist act utilitarianism understands happiness in terms of balance of pleasure over pain.

Question 6

felicific/ utility calculus

Answer 6

Means of calculating everyone’s pleasures and pains caused by an action and adding them up to a single scale.

Aspects of pleasure taken into account; intensity, duration, certainty, remoteness, fecundity, purity and extent.

Question 7

Rule utilitarianism

Answer 7

The theory that only happiness is good, and the right act that complies with the rules which, if everybody followed them, would lead to the greatest happiness (compared to any other set of rules).

Question 8

Critics of act utilitarianism

Answer 8

• long-term consequences can never be known
• It takes to long to calculate the moral worth
• Theory leads to counter-intuitive results

Question 9

How rule utilitarianism overcomes act utilitarianism critics

Answer 9

It argues you should follow general rules (Mill calls secondary principles) such as ‘don’t kill’ and ‘don’t steal’. In this theory an act is good if it follows a suitable rule and rule is good if it is one that will increase happiness.

Question 10

Issue- Rule utilitarianism collapses into act utilitarianism

Answer 10

Most basic rules are too general and have legitimate exceptions. ‘Do not lie’ is a rule but ‘do not lie, unless to a potential murder’ is a better one. Every time there is a new set of cases where lying may produce more happiness, we could make another amendment. Smart argues this would end up as just act utilitarianism, but rules that apply to very specific situations.

Question 11

Qualitative hedonistic utilitarianism

Answer 11

Mills higher and lower pleasures

Question 12

Higher and Lower pleasures

Answer 12

Mill believed that pleasures of the mind where superior to physical pleasures as they were likely to last longer and so give more pleasure.

Question 13

Criticism of H and L pleasures

Answer 13

Is it even hedonist utilitarianism anymore? Mill’s distinction means that some pleasures can be better even if they produce less pleasure. it seems as though despite something being less pleasant it’s still better, thus we are no longer seeking to maximise pleasure.

Question 14

Mill’s proof of the greatest happiness principle

Answer 14

1. the only evidence that something is desirable is that it is actually desired.
2. each person desires their own happiness.
3. therefore, each persons happiness is desirable.
4. the general happiness is desirable.
5. the general happiness is a good to the aggregate of all persons.
6. Happiness is the only good.

Question 15

Criticism of Mills proof- equivocation

Answer 15

Mill suggests the property of being ‘desirable’ is like the property of being ‘visible’. However, desirability can be argued to be crucially different as it has 2 meanings.

1. A factual sense, what is able to be desired could be anything- even morally questionable things.
2. A more moral sense, meaning that which ought to be desired.

He is guilty of equivocation- using a term with more than one meaning misleadingly.

Question 16

Criticism of Mills proof- fallacy of composition

Answer 16

Each person wants their own happiness and not necessarily the general happiness.