Utilitarianism

Question 1

Principle of Utility

Answer 1

Bentham’s argument that what is good will bring about the greatest amount of happiness for the greatest number

Question 2

Egalitarian

Answer 2

All are considered equally when making moral decisions - a king is no more significant than a peasant

Question 3

Hedonic Calculus

Answer 3

Duration, Remoteness, Purity, Richness, Intensity, Certainty, Extent

Question 4

Quantitative

Answer 4

Based decisions on the numbers of people who will be happy - I.e. maximising pleasure and minimising pain

Question 5

Act Utilitarianism

Answer 5

Decides what will benefit the majority on a case by case basis

Question 6

Tyranny of the Majority

Answer 6

Mill argued that Bentham’s quantitative system would cause the minority to lose out in favour of the majority

Question 7

Qualitative Utilitarianism

Answer 7

Bases decisions on whether they will generate “higher forms” of happiness

Question 8

Pigs

Answer 8

Stuart Mill argued that it is “better to be a human being dissatisfied than a pig satisfied; better to be Socrates dissatisfied than a fool satisfied”

Question 9

Haydn and the Oyster

Answer 9

Bentham would argue the immortal oyster experiences the most happiness as it lives forever, yet Mills would argue that Hayden has a higher form of happiness for his short 70+ years
(Idea by Roger Crisp)

Question 10

Rule Utilitarianism

Answer 10

Bases decisions on rules created by using the principle of utility (deontological) eg: lying usually generates more unhappiness so I will make a rule to myself not to tell lies

Question 11

Preference Utilitarianism

Answer 11

Peter Singer argues that happiness is difficult to measure, better to base decisions on what will benefit the majority. Describes the decision making process as a “trade off”