Utilitarianism

Question 1

What is on the specification that you are expected to know?

Answer 1

-The principle of Utility
-The Hedonic Calculus
-Act utilitarianism
-Rule utilitarianism

Question 2

Define the Principle of Utility.

Answer 2

Seeking the greatest balance of good over evil or pleasure over pain.

Question 3

What is another way of expressing the principle of Utility?

Answer 3

Doing the right action which can lead to the greatest good for the greatest number.

Question 4

What is a HUGE weakness of the principle of Utility?

Answer 4

It is a single principle used to resolve dilemmas however the word good is subjective and differs between different thinkers e.g Classical utilitarianism (Bentham and Mill) believe good=pleasure

Question 5

What is Bentham’s version of the Principle of utility?

Answer 5

We should do what is useful in achieving the greatest balance of good over evil.

Question 6

What rule does Bentham’s version of the principle of Utility present?

Answer 6

Greatest Happiness Principle

Question 7

What does Bentham believe humans are?

Answer 7

Hedonistic (pleasure-seekers)

Question 8

Because humans are pleasure-seekers according to Bentham what does that mean humans have?

Answer 8

An instinct to seek pleasure and avoid pain.

Question 9

What kind of theory is Utilitarianism?

Answer 9

Secular

Question 10

Because Bentham was atheist what did he also argue?

Answer 10

It is not a divine being or human reason which motivates us but the pursuit of pleasure and avoidance of pain.

Question 11

What are two advantages of Hedonist Utilitarianism (Bentham)?

Answer 11

-Maximising pleasure and happiness is a good aim it would be strange to not value them
-Nature provides this principle as we do seem to seek pleasure and avoid pain

Question 12

What are 3 weaknesses of the Hedonic Utilitarianism (Bentham)?

Answer 12

-Pleasure and pain may be dependant on the individual as we have different views on what may lead to happiness perhaps making preferential utilitarianism a more viable option.
-ROBERT NOZICK,the experiment machine if we were offered to go into a machine which allows us to feel pleasurable sensations without experiencing it we would all decline as we value our real life over pleasure.
-Difficult to measure pleasure and pain.

Question 13

What is the Hedonic Calculus used for?

Answer 13

Used to quantify which action will bring about the greatest good for the greatest number.

Question 14

What are the 7 Factors of the Hedonic Calculus:
Parmesan Cheese Produces Intense Delight For Everyone

Answer 14

-Purity
-Certainty
-Propinquity
-Intensity
-Duration
-Fecundity
-Extent

Question 15

Define intensity, Duration and extent.

Answer 15

Intensity- How strong would the pleasure/pain be
Duration- How long will the pleasure/pain last
Extent- How many people will be effected

Question 16

What are two advantages of Bentham’s Act Utilitarianism?

Answer 16

-It is straightforward as it is a single principle minimising pain and maximising pleasure
-It is morally democratic as it is fair as it looks at what brings happiness to the most people

Question 17

Explain the disadvantage of Bentham’s Act Utilitarianism being labelled as a ‘Swine Ethic’.

Answer 17

It treats us as if we are pigs and wrongly assumes that we are creatures which value pleasure identically.He also claimed that penny push has the same pleasure as poetry highlighting that his focus on pleasure is too narrow.
(J.S Mill)

Question 18

What are 2 other disadvantages of Bentham’s Act Utilitarianism?

Answer 18

-It can lead to appalling consequence as theoretically if it was applied to gang rape it would justify as the pleasure of the rapists outweigh the victim (J.S Mill)
-MCCLOSKEY racism example,a sheriff has a choice to either prosecute a innocent black man in order to prevent a riot from the townspeople or let him go.The sheriff chooses to prosecute him knowing he is innocent which is morally wrong because it shows act utilitarianism can lead to people being treated differently within society.

Question 19

What are two advantages of the Hedonic Calculus?

Answer 19

-Neuroscience advances can lead to measuring pleasure and happiness in terms of observing brain activity during key moments
-J.S Mill,if we want to know what is desirable we should look at what people desire.for example in his analogy if we want to know what is visible and what isn’t you would ask what can be seen in the same way you should ask what people desire.

Question 20

What are two disadvantages of the Hedonic Calculus?

Answer 20

-Things that can be measured/quantifiable usually have units of measurement e.g time has hours and minutes mass has grams there is no obvious unit of measurement.
-Pleasure and pain are subjective we enjoy different things and have different pain thresholds and some would suffer for the greater good.

Question 21

What is a weakness of Weak Rule Utilitarianism?

Answer 21

The term exceptional circumstances is too subjective.

Question 22

What are two types of Rule Utilitarianism?

Answer 22

-Strong Rule Utilitarianism
-Weak Rule Utilitarianism

Question 23

What is Strong Rule Utilitarianism?

Answer 23

Always follow rules worked out from past events no matter what the outcome will be.

Question 24

What are two disadvantages of Strong Rule Utilitarianism?

Answer 24

-It is rigid and Inflexible
-Can be accused of being deontological which is not compatible with Utilitarianism

Question 25

What is Weak Rule Utilitarianism?

Answer 25

Some rules in history can be broken if it leads to the greater good or greatest happiness in exceptional circumstances.(J.S Mill)

Question 26

What are two advantages of Rule Utilitarianism?

Answer 26

-Mill's Liberty Principle addresses many of the issues Bentham's act utilitarianism faced as the no harm principle is where no harm can be caused to others making gang rape not justifiable -Peter Vardy, allows us to make rules which uphold justice and rights two things that can be lost from act utilitarianism.

Question 27

What are the three disadvantages of Rule Utilitarianism?

Answer 27

-May not consider the merits of an individual situation -There can be situations where different utilitarian rules and principles can clash so a different approach would be needed. -Weak utilitarianism can end up falling into act utilitarianism due to the exceptions so it would face the same issues.

Question 28

What is preference utilitarianism?

Answer 28

It is when the greatest balance of good/evil is brought about when personal preference is maximised.

Question 29

Why did preference utilitarianism come about?

Answer 29

It attempt to address the key issues Bentham and mill face that we all have similar views of goodness and pleasure

Question 30

How is prefernce uitilitarianism utilised?

Answer 30

-individual must put other interests above there own -Impartial observer removing self interest

Question 31

What are 2 strengths of preferential utilitarianism?

Answer 31

-allows us to pursue individual interest rather than the majority -much easier to measure e.g surveys

Question 32

What are 2 weaknesses of preferential utilitarianism?

Answer 32

-when someone chooses for them self its not always the best -It's difficult to consider what everyone's preference is

Question 33

What 2 pleasure did Mill introduce?

Answer 33

Higher Pleasure= Intellectual and social pleasures Lower Pleasure= Bodily pleasures

Question 34

Why is Higher pleasure deemed as Superior?

Answer 34

As overindulgence in lower pleasure can lead to pain.

Question 35

When talking about pleasure according to mill what is it usually associated with?

Answer 35

Eudaimonia-Human Flourishing

Question 36

What are two disadvantages of Mill's higher and lower Pleasures?

Answer 36

-elitist, why is it that only higher pleasure such as reading brings human progress but not a lower pleasure such as exercising -He attempted to make Bentham's Utilitarinism sophisticated however this arose new problems as what made Bentham's attractive was the simplicity and practicality however Mill introducing quality the simplicityf disappears

Question 37

What kind of theory is utilitarianism in terms of action or outcomes?

Answer 37

Teleological- Focus is on the Goodness of the action. Teleological/ Consequentialists relativist theory

Question 38

What is one main weakness of Bentham's Act utilitarianism overall?

Answer 38

Your unable to predict the future.

Question 39

Why can Rule utilitarianism be seen as better than Act?

Answer 39

Because it doesn't allow others to be harmed and also Bentham's looks more case by case which means its focus is more on the individual.

Question 40

Where does Jeremy Bentham's Influence come from?

Answer 40

Epicurus- first to say humans are pleasure David Hume- We should look at the usefulness