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Ethics basics > utilitarianism > Flashcards

utilitarianism Flashcards

1
Q

main scholars (U)

A

Act - Jeremy Bentham
Rule - John Stuart Mill
Influences - David Hume (links ethics to utility), Epicureus (links pleasure to happiness)

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2
Q

What is the principle of utility

A

seeking the greatest balance of good over evil, pleasure over pain

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3
Q

religious or secular (U)

A

secular

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4
Q

absolutist or relativist (U)

A

good is relative

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5
Q

deontological or teleological (U)

A

teleological

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6
Q

What is the hedonic calculus

A

method of applying the utility principle to potential ecisions to work out which will promote the most pleasure

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7
Q

What are the seven questions of the hedonic calculus

A

Purity, Remotenness, Richness, Intensity, Certainty, Extent, Duration

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8
Q

Purity

A

will this pain lead to another pain?

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9
Q

remoteness

A

is the pleasure/pain in the distant or near future?

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10
Q

richness/fecundity

A

will this pleasure lead to another pleasure?

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11
Q

certainty

A

how certain are you that the pleasure/pain will happen?

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12
Q

extent

A

the number of people who would be effected by the pleasure/pain

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13
Q

duration

A

will the pleaure/pain last for a short time or long time

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14
Q

Act utilitarianism (Bentham)

A

Calculating the consequences of each situation on its own merits

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15
Q

Rule utilitarianism (Mill)

A

Following the accepted laws that lead to the greatest balance of good over evil and pleasure over pain

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16
Q

Mill’s qualititive approach to pleasure

A

Some pleasures (higher, intellectual/social) are better than others (lower, bodily/physical), so are more valuable

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17
Q

What is the harm/non-harm/liberty principle?

A

an action is wrong if it involves harming another person

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18
Q

What did mill say when accusing Act utilitarianism of being a swine ethic?

A

“it is better to be a human being dissatisfied than a pig satisfied” (higher/lower pleasures)

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19
Q

How to remember the hedonic calculus

A

Parmesan Cheese Produces Intense Delight For Everyone

20
Q

Bentham‘s influences: EPICUREUS

A

First philosopher suggesting ethics should be hedonistic

21
Q

Bentham‘s influences: DAVID HUME

A

First to suggest ethics should be concerned with utility

22
Q

What is hedonism

A

Pleasure and good are interchangeable terms

23
Q

What type of utilitarianism is the most commonly associated with Mill

A

Weak rule

24
Q

What was Mill‘s harm/liberty principle used to legalise

A

Gay sex

25
Q

What is the right action in utilitarianism

A

That leads to the greatest good for the greatest number of

26
Q

Where did Bentham suggest we were presented the utility principle

A

‚Nature has placed mankind under the governance of two sovereign masters, pain and pleasure‘

27
Q

What supports the idea we have an instinct to avoid pain and pursue pleasure

A

Dropping a hot pan

28
Q

What did Oscar Wilde say about pleasures

A

Do not du unto others as you would have them do unto you; they may have different tastes

29
Q

What is a false assumption that something appearing in nature makes it good

A

Naturalistic fallacy

30
Q

What is the starting point of AU

A

individuals

31
Q

What is the starting point of RU

A

Common good of society

32
Q

What did Bentham call human rights

A

Nonsense on stilts

33
Q

What did Mill say about AU being a swine ethic

A

It is better to be a human being dissatisfied than a pig satisfied

34
Q

What is the tyranny of the majority

A

Pleasure of the majority can justify ignoring the suffering of the minority

35
Q

What is McCloskey‘s racism example

A

A sherif has to choose whether to prosecute an innocent black man to prevent a riot. He does so to bring about greater utility

36
Q

What did Bentham say about types of pleasure

A

Push penny is as good as poetry

37
Q

What is strong rule utilitarianism

A

Always follow rules worked out from past events regardless of the outcome

38
Q

What are weak rule utilitarians

A

Some rules can be broken if it leads to the greater good in exceptional circumstances

39
Q

What is preference utilitarianism

A

Greatest good comes when the greatest amazing of personal preferences are maximised

40
Q

What did Peter Vardy say on rule utilitarianism

A

Solves the problem of minority groups being discounted

41
Q

Who decides between higher and lower pleasures being superior

A

A competent judge

42
Q

Who is most commonly associated with preference utilitarianism

A

Peter Singer

43
Q

What role did Singer say we should take on

A

Impartial observer
Our own preferences cannot take priority over others

44
Q

Hat does Singer classify as a person

A

A being that is capable of anticipating the future

45
Q

What is Robert Nozick‘s experience machine

A

PLEASURE IS NOT OUR ULTIMATE AIM IN LIFE
When given the choice between life in a machine where they only feel pleasure or a life with everyday experiences, they choose the latter

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