Utilitarianism

Question 1

Two main types of Utilitarianism + Scholars?

Answer 1

• Act Utilitarianism –> Jeremy Bentham
  –> Calculate consequence of each situation based on tis own merits
  –> morality decided through what brings the greatest happiness in each situation
• Rule Utilitarianism –> John Stuart Mill
  –> Follow accepted laws / rules that lead to greatest overall pleasure over pain
  –> General rules for everyone to follow, not absolute rules but should generally be followed

Question 2

What approach to morality is Utilitarianism? (What does it based morality off)

Answer 2

Teleological Approach - Focus on outcome / consequences of Actions instead of deontological (Intrinsic morality of actions themselves)

Question 3

What is the main underlying principles of Utilitarianism?

Answer 3

The Utility Principle
- Greatest good for the greatest number
- Seek the greatest balance of good / pleasure over evil / pain

Question 4

How do Utilitarianians define Good?

Answer 4

Bentham
Good = Pleasure
Mill focus on Happiness

–> not always the case irl e.g. drugs, gluttony prioritising SR superficial happiness over long term happiness
–> not all pain bad e.g. vaccines

Question 5

Who is Jeremy Bentham + What did he think?

Answer 5

Bentham 18th Century
- Act Utilitarian

• Utility Principle
  –> decide morality through what achieves greatest happiness for the greatest number
• Hedonic Calculus
  –> attempt at mathematical method of quantifying pleasure and pain

Question 6

What is the Hedonic Calculus?

Answer 6

• Developed by Bentham, Attempt to make a mathematical method of quantifying happiness
• Pleasure, Propinquity, Extent, Duration, Intensity, Certainty, Fecundity
  (PPE Does Include Cutting Funding) idk

Pleasure - Is pleasure mixed with pain
Propinquity - how distant is pleasure
Extent - How many people affected
Duration - How long pleasure last
Intensity - How intense pleasure
Certainty - How certain are you of result
Fecundity - How likely is pleasure to cause more pleasure

Pro - provide structure to measure happiness
Cons - vague, subjective, all criteria have same weighting

Question 7

Who is John Stuart Mill + What does he think?

Answer 7

19th Century
- Rejects HC + Bentham’s focus on Quantity
–> Prioritises quality
- Sadistic guard argument to Bentham
- Developed Higher vs. Lower pleasure
- Mill’s Harm Principle

Question 8

Higher vs. Lower Pleasures

Answer 8

Mill
Higher pleasures
- Stimulate higher thought e.g. poetry
- Better to be dissatisfied human than satisfied pig

Lower Pleasures
- Physical pleasures create superficial happiness, not permanent

Question 9

Why does Mill prioritises Quantity?

Answer 9

• Rejects Hedonic Calculus + Focus on Quantity of pleasure
• Mill didn’t agree all pleasures were equal e.g. higher pleasures Vs. Lower
• Higher pleasures satisfy the mind, lower pleasures the body
  –> Mental well being more important than bodily pleasures

Question 10

The Sadistic Guards Argument?

Answer 10

Mill states Bentham’s theory allows for 10 guards to torture a prisoner if they enjoy it
- Mill prevents this as quality of suffering overweights quality of happiness for guards

Question 11

Why did Mill prioritise Happiness over Pleasure?

Answer 11

• Still held Utility Principle true, but preferred happiness to pleasure
• Happiness is only desirable thing, other things seem desirable because they lead to happiness
• General Happiness of all is desirable

Question 12

What is the Harm Principle?

Answer 12

• John Stuart Mill
• no one should forcibly be prevented from acting in a way he chooses, provided his actions are not invasive of the free acts of others’
  –> Actions should only be limited if they present harm or restriction to other - e.g. argument for homosexuality

Question 13

Wider Scholars for Utilitarianism?

Answer 13

• Peter Singer - Preference Utilitarianism
  –> Should do what people would rationality prefer
  –> Cant overlook minorities
• Henry Sidwick - Classical Utilitarianism
  –> moral symmetry of pleasure and pain (Pleasure ↑ pain automatically ↓)
  –> Questions how we distinguish lower from higher pleasure + one higher pleasure from another
  –> People should act toward others in a way they wouldn’t want other to act towards them

G.E. Moore - Ideal Utilitarianism
–> Rejects idea sole moral objective is pleasure or happiness
–> other intrinsic goods such as friendship or knowledge (Mill respond that these things only seem desirable cause they cause happiness)

Karl Popper - Negative Utilitarianism
–> Classical Util can be used to justify horrific acts
–> Should Act to minimise suffering rather than maximise pleasure
–> Maximising pleasure should be left to individual
–> No moral symmetry between pleasure and pain

Bernard Williams
- Util causes compromise of moral integrity, go against moral principles

Question 14

Strengths to Utilitarianism

Answer 14

Teleological
- Forces people to consider morality of action + affects on other
- Not just follow rules like deontological

Rational
- Rational to maximise pleasure + minimise pain

Structured
- Hedonic Calculus - mathematical measurable

Democratic
- Treats everyone as equal
- Does best for majority

Universal
- Everyone is give the same one principle of utility to follow

Question 15

Weaknesses of Utilitarianism ?

Answer 15

Future is Unpredictable
- Even if could Quantify pleasure can predict others reactions to action
- Unknown variable e.g. Pojman’s Hitlers grandma example

Cant Quantify happiness
- Too subjective, even HC is vague

Tyranny of Majority
- Minority ignored, majority abuse power

Justify horrific acts
- Ends don’t justify means
- Mill’s sadistic guard argument

No rest objection
- Maximising others happiness leads to self-sacrifice, need a balance e.g. Aristotles mean (even virtues need to be balanced)

Compromise moral integrity
- Bernard Williams - can cause you to go against deep held moral principles