Utilitarianism

Question 1

Utilitarianism is teleological, what does that mean?

Answer 1

This means it is concerned with the consequences of an action to decide if it is right or wrong. In other words, the end justifies the mean.

Question 2

How do you simplify the meaning of utilitarianism?

Answer 2

-Something is good of it brings the most happiness.

-The greatest good for the greatest number.

Question 3

What makes utilitariansim a hedonistic theory?

Answer 3

Good is defined in terms of pleasure and/or happiness; this makes it a hedonistic theory.

Question 4

What did Plato and Aristotle agree on?

Answer 4

They agreed that good=happiness

Question 5

The example of a knife with a purpose is what?

Answer 5

-For something to be good it must have a purpose.

-For example, a good knife is a sharp knife. A bad knife is a blunt one.

-Being useful-having a purpose and being good at it brings happiness.

Question 6

Is being good the same as pleasure?

Answer 6

Doing something good or being good is not always the same as pleasure, but being good at something and doing it well will often bring pleasure.

Question 7

Waht is the biigest negative about this theory?

Answer 7

This theory can be that it only supports the majority but it leaves the minority to suffer as a cost of making the majority happy.

Question 8

Who is the main philosopher for Utilitarianism?

Answer 8

-The main philosopher for this theory is London based philosopher Jeremy Bentham [1748-1832].

-He was interested in political and legal reform.

-He designed the panopticon prison.

Question 9

The principle of utility= ?

Answer 9

-For Bentham, good acts bring about the most pleasure and the least amount of pain.

-Not just for the person doing the act, but for society.

Question 10

What example did Bentham use for the principle of utility?

Answer 10

A person may get pleasure from hurting people but this would still be wrong because it causes more harm for more people than it gives pleasure too.

Question 11

Who did Bentham develop his theory from?

Answer 11

Ancient Greek philosophers such as Aristotle and Plato

Question 12

What did Bentham come up with to help justify using utilitarianism?

Answer 12

The Hedoinc calculus

Question 13

Hedonic Calculus= ?

Answer 13

There are 7 tests, the higher the score the more happiness [and therefore goodness]. The lower the score the more pain [and therefore badness]. This makes it a quantitative theory

Question 14

What are the 7 tests?

Answer 14

Intensity
Duration
Certainty
Remoteness
Chance
Purity
Extent

Question 15

Intensity=

Answer 15

How intense is the pleasure or pain?

Question 16

Duration=

Answer 16

-How long does the pleasure or pain last?

Question 17

Certainty=

Answer 17

-What is the probability that the pleasure or pain will occur?

Question 18

Remoteness=

Answer 18

How far off in the future is the pleasure or pain?

Question 19

Chance=

Answer 19

-What is the probability that the pleasure will lead to other pleasures?

Question 20

Purity=

Answer 20

How pleasurable is the pleasure?

Question 21

Extent=

Answer 21

How many persons are affected by the pleasure?

Question 22

Who is John Stuart Mill?

Answer 22

The grandson of Bentham was around from 1806-73.

Question 23

What did John Stuart Mill believe in?

Answer 23

He believed there were high and low principles. These were very classist and the things he thought were high pleasures were things he liked [they were also quite expensive e.g. the Opera].

Question 24

Mills logic= ?

Answer 24

I can still be happy if someone else is sad. He says this to justify the phrase “the greatest good for the greatest number,” therefore the theory must be universal.

Question 25

Mill’s rule= ?

Answer 25

-He argues that there should be moral rules that everyone follows [universal] and these rules should be designed to provide.