Utilitarianism

Question 1

What is Jeremy Bentham’s famous Utilitarianism quote

Answer 1

“What one ought to do is to maximise pleasure and minimise pain”

Question 2

Define Hedonistic Psychology

Answer 2

The view that all human action is ultimately motivated by desires for pleasure and the avoidance of pain

Question 3

What principle did Bentham create

Answer 3

Bentham created the principle known as the principle of utility

Question 3

What does Bentham say Utilitarianism refers to

Answer 3

The principle states that humans try to maximise what we desire and minimise what we fear

Question 4

What prison did Bentham famously design

Answer 4

‘Panopticon’

Question 5

What is the ‘Panopticon’

Answer 5

Where prisoners would be visible to the authorities at all times

Question 6

What did the ‘Panopticon’ encourage prisoners to do

Answer 6

It encouraged prisoners to naturally do what they ought to do.

Question 7

Why did Bentham create the ‘Panopticon’

Answer 7

Bentham did this in order to promote the greatest good for the greatest number, in order to avoid pain

Question 8

What calculation did Bentham create

Answer 8

The “Felicific Calculus”

Question 9

Why did Bentham create The “Felicific Calculus”

Answer 9

To aid the calculation of the exact quantity of pain and pleasure that would result from a given action

Question 10

Which Utilitarian philosopher criticised Bentham’s theory of pleasure

Answer 10

John Stuart Mill

Question 11

Define Principle of Utility

Answer 11

By the principle of utility is meant that principle which approves or disapproves of every action whatsoever

Question 12

Define Utilitarianism

Answer 12

The doctrine that actions are right if they are useful or for the benefit of a majority

Question 13

Define Panopticon

Answer 13

A circular prison with cells arranged around a central well, from which prisoners could at all times be observed

Question 14

Define Felicific Calculus

Answer 14

A method of determining the rightness of an action by balancing the probable pleasures and pains that it would produce

Question 15

What does Bentham’s Utilitarianism lack

Answer 15

Bentham’s utilitarianism lacks any notion of an individual’s rights

Question 16

Which philosopher developed Bentham’s Utilitarianism

Answer 16

John Stuart Mill

Question 17

Which philosopher was a Hedonist Utilitarian

Answer 17

Jeremy Bentham

Question 18

What is the Hedonic Calculus made up of

Answer 18

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

Question 19

Define Act Utilitarianism

Answer 19

The general principle of utilitarianism

Question 20

What does Act Utilitarianism say about acts

Answer 20

The rightness or wrongness of an act is determined by the pleasure of the result

Question 21

Which philosopher developed Act Utilitarianism

Answer 21

Bentham

Question 22

What are Teleological Ethics

Answer 22

Teleological ethics determines a good act by the ends is brings about

Question 23

What are the four limitations of Act Utilitarianism

Answer 23

It tends to create a black-and-white construct of morality

Utilitarianism cannot predict with certainty whether the consequences of our actions will be good or bad

Pleasure can be very subjective

Doesn’t take into account personal morals

Question 24

Which philosopher differentiated between higher and lower pleasures

Answer 24

John Stuart Mill

Question 25

Which philosopher said “It is better to be a human being dissatisfied than a pig satisfied; better to be Socrates dissatisfied than a fool satisfied”

Answer 25

John Stuart Mill

Question 26

What does John Stuart Mill refer to in relation to pleasures

Answer 26

Lower beings cannot experience pleasures such as: reading, music and relationships. It is much better to experience these higher pleasures than to endure basic pleasures such as food and sex.

Question 27

What are the two ways to measure pleasure

Answer 27

Quality vs Quantity

Question 28

What does Quality and Quantity refer to

Answer 28

Quantity refers to the amount of pleasure received, whereas quality refers to the value of pleasure

Question 29

Which philosopher believes the quality of pleasure is far more important than the quantity of pleasure

Answer 29

John Stuart Mill

Question 30

What does John Stuart Mill’s theory say about pleasure

Answer 30

By using this theory, you can measure pleasure, by determining if it’s a higher or basic pleasure

Question 31

What does Hedonism say about pain & pleasure

Answer 31

Hedonism claims that pain and pleasure motivates human beings

Question 32

How does the Hedonic Calculus measure pleasure

Answer 32

By evaluating the pleasure’s purity, richness, remoteness, intensity, certainty, extent and duration

Question 33

Who is the main Rule Utilitarianism philosopher

Answer 33

John Stuart Mill

Question 34

What does Rule Utilitarianism say about rules

Answer 34

General rules that everyone should follow to bring about the greatest good for the community

Rule takes priority over immediate situation

Question 35

What are the two main problems with Rule Utilitarianism

Answer 35

You cannot break the rules, no matter the circumstance

Penalises the minorities within people

Question 36

What is Anarchism

Answer 36

Anarchism is a political philosophy and movement that is sceptical of all justifications for authority and seeks to abolish the institutions they claim maintain unnecessary coercion and hierarchy, typically including, though not necessarily limited to, the state and capitalism