Utilitarianism Flashcards
What is the principle of utility?
An action is good if it maximises pleasure and minimizes pain. “greatest good for the greatest many”
Whose the “founder” of utilitarianism
Jeremy Bentham
What was benthams book
Introndiction to the principles of morals and legislation.
Does Benthams act utilitarianism take a quantitive of qualititave approach to valuing pleasure
Quantitiave-a game of pushpin(childrens game) is as valuable as poetry or the arts.
Is utilitarianism just about maximizing your own pleasure?
No, utilitarianism is about maximizing pleasure for as many people as possible-greatest good for the greatest many
Did Bentham believe that the principle of utility could ever be rejected?
No. He felt it was impossible to disapprove of it in a cohherent way. Although ascetics live a life of pain and suffering, bentham says that is their right and they are permitted to do that, but not subject anyone else to their beliefs e.g. in a holy way
What is the hedonic calculus and name some of the factors involved?
It is, to Bentham, an objective way of caluclating how much pleasure or pain an act will cause. Actions are rated in different categories such as duratioon, intensity or certainty to see whether the action causes more harm than good or is the best available option, by maximzing pleasure.
How is the hedonic calculus criticised?
it is unwieldy and unpractical to apply in everydfay situations. It is also not completely objective as peoople will disagree about different factors based on personal bias and computational errors.
What are all the characteristics oof benthams Act utilitarianism
Morally relativist-Different things are acceptable at different times based on how much net happiness they make
Consequentialist-an act is good if it produces the best consequences so the most happiness
Teleological-the goal is the greatest happiness
What is Thomas Carlysles criticism of act utilitarianism
It is “pig philsophy” Roger Crisp-Haydn and the Oyster-base pleasures are as valuable as sophisticated pleasures.
What is J.S. Mills approach to pleasure?
It is Qualitive-some pleasures are better than others.
What is the difference between Higher and Lower pleasures?
Lower pleasures are sensual or physical e.g. being warm
Higher pleasures are of a higher quality and distinguish us from animals-e.g. education or the arts.
Someone who has experienced a higher pleasure will always choose them over lower pleasures, even if it leads to discomfort.
What is rule utilitarianism
The idea that you can approach a situation with ready made rules that tend to result in maximization of pleasure, such as the harm principle. Strong rule utilitarianism says that these rules should never be broken whilst weak rule utilitarianism argues that if an action will obviously cause more pleasure it should be chosen over the rule. e.g. moral to kill in self defence.
What is the harm principle
John Stuart Mill’s harm principle states that individuals have the right to act as they wish, as long as their actions do not harm others. In other words, people should be free to pursue their own interests, as long as they do not harm others in the process. however, those who cannot make their own decisions, e.g. children may not be free.
Summarize the characteristics of Mills Rule utilitarianism
Telelogical-concerned with the outcome-similar to Benthams
Deontological-Sense of duty resulting from the establishment of rules that maximzie pleasure.