Utilitarianism Flashcards
What type of utilitarianism did Bentham develop?
Act Utilitarianism.
What is the difference between Act and Rule Utilitarianism?
Act utilitarianism focuses on directly calculating the consequences of individual actions, while rule utilitarianism emphasizes following general rules or principles that have been determined to maximize overall utility.
What did Mill think is the better type of Utilitarianism?
Rule utility.
Mill’s philosophy
Mill thought there were higher pleasures that are superior to others. These have a less risk of addiction and last longer - e.g. developing yourself through music.
Too difficult to calculate every single action and society can only function if we find rules to maximise happiness.
What is Mill’s ‘harm principle?’
People should be free to do what they want so long as they are not harming others.
Strengths of Act utilitarianism
Case-by-case allows for flexibility.
Our situations are complex so we must judge them separately.
Gives actual solutions through the hedonic calculus.
Strengths of Rule Utilitarianism
Quicker approach than hedonic calculus, more accessible and sensible.
Must have rules for society to function, this would be lost in act utilitarianism.
Weaknesses of Act Utilitarianism
Takes too much time - unrealistic.
Can result with bias as the hedonic calculus is not objective.
Nozick’s thought experiment and what it shows.
People have the choice to plug themselves into a machine which would generate pleasure through experiences that cannot be differentiated from real life. Nozick thought that not everyone would choose to use the machine.
Therefore people value things other than pleasure, hence utilitarianism’s premise is wrong.
Why does Nozick’s criticism fail?
Valuing other people’s happiness is part of utilitarianism, which Nozick fails to take into account. E.g. a parent of a newborn child is unlikely to go into the machine as their happiness depends on the happiness of their child.
What is the Hedonic Calculus?
Thomas Bentham came up with a calculus to measure the benefit or harm of an action through the categories - Purity, Remoteness, Intensity, Certainty, Extent, Duration and Fecundity (PRICED F).
This means pleasure is quantives.
Bentham quote (masters)
‘Nature has placed mankind under the governance of two sovereign masters, pain and pleasure.’
Issues of calculation
Kant - we don’t know the consequences of actions before we do them (therefore we are not to blame for them).
Subjective - hard to measure scientifically.
Time-sensitive - considering all possible outcomes is very difficult. LACKS PRACTICAL APPLICATION.
No units of measure.
Lower and higher pleasures.
counter to the weaknesses of calculation
Rule Utilitarianism - do not have the impractability of the hedonic calculus. General rules are used. Mill said that we should update the rules as the knowledge of what makes people happy develops (modern and developing).
Can observe happiness.
Surveys, empirical and science.
Utilitarianism promotes the tyranny of the majority.
Human rights are deontological - e.g. claiming people have a right to life - therefore consequentialist ethics cannot accept human rights as valid.
Anything can be justified if it brings about happiness for the majority. Greatest good for the greatest number.
