utilitarianism Flashcards
What is Jeremy Benthams main idea
the most moral action is one that creates the greatest happiness for the greatest amount of people
What is the Hedonic Calculus
The system in which you can measure quantity of pleasure based on Intensity, duration, certainty, remoteness, richness, purity and extent
What is hedonism
The greek belief that humans naturally choose pleasure over pain
What is Bentham’s quote about pain and pleasure
“Nature has placed mankind under the governance of two sovereign masters, pain and pleasure”
What is Bentham’s quote about different pleasure being equal?
“Prejudice apart, the game push-pin is of equal value with the arts and sciences of music and poetry”
What is the deontological theory?
considering the action rather than the consequence
What is the teleological theory?
considering the end goal or result when deciding if something is moral
what is the consequentialist theory
Considering the consequences rather than actions
What is normative ethics
ethical theories considering how we act
What is the absolutist theory?
Good and bad actions are fixed and unchanging
what is the relativist theory
Good and bad actions may change depending on circumstances
How would you lay out a paragraph in an essay applying hedonic calculus
Name factor
Define it
Apply it
-> consider everyone affected
what is act utilitarianism
theory that states each individual action should be judged according to utilitarian principles
what is rule utilitariansim
general rules should be established which, if followed, would create the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people
what is the difference between higher and lower pleasures
higher pleasures are related to intellect and lower pleasures are related to the body and senses
what is the harm principle
people can do whatever they want unless it harms another person
what is weak rule utilitarianism
rules based on utilitarian principles should be obeyed unless it would create greater pleasure to break them
What is JS Mill’s main idea
quality of pleasure is important and higher pleasures are more closely linked to morality
What is Mill’s quote about quality of pleasure
“It is better to be a human being dissatisfied than a big satisfied”
What are 2 disadvantages of utilitarianisim
HAPPINESS IS A DANGEROUS EMOTION - Everyone has different ideas about happiness and it effects everyone differently and there’s know way to truly measure it
REQUIRES PREDICTION OF CONSEQUENCES - consequentialist approach means you need to predict potential happiness or bad consequences, however you never truly know what will happen and the opposite to what you expect could happen
what are 2 advantages of utilitarianism
COMPASSIONATE ETHICS - judging the consequences rather than actions, allows you to consider specific circumstances . E.g. lying is wrong but certain situations it is necessary
HUMANS ARE HEDONISTS - Aristotle stated everyone’s major aim in life is to pursuit happiness. SONJA LYUBOMIRSKY says happy people are more likely to have fulfilling relationships, high incomes, robust health.
what are 2 disadvantages of act utilitarianism
TIME CONSUMING - long time to work through hedonic calculus
COULD BE UNMORAL - can be argued gang rape is acceptable because of quantity of pleasure
2 advantages of act utilitariansim
HEDONIC CALCULUS - clear way to weigh up quantity of pleasure
BASED ON HEDONISM - humans naturally seek pleasure
2 strengths of rule utilitarianism
HARM PRINCIPLE - solves issue of causing pain to a minority
QUALITY OF PLEASURE - recognises some pleasures are worth pursuing rather than others
