utilitarianism

Question 1

main scholars (U)

Answer 1

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

Question 2

What is the principle of utility

Answer 2

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

Question 3

religious or secular (U)

Answer 3

secular

Question 4

absolutist or relativist (U)

Answer 4

good is relative

Question 5

deontological or teleological (U)

Answer 5

teleological

Question 6

What is the hedonic calculus

Answer 6

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

Question 7

What are the seven questions of the hedonic calculus

Answer 7

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

Question 8

Purity

Answer 8

will this pain lead to another pain?

Question 9

remoteness

Answer 9

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

Question 10

richness/fecundity

Answer 10

will this pleasure lead to another pleasure?

Question 11

certainty

Answer 11

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

Question 12

extent

Answer 12

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

Question 13

duration

Answer 13

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

Question 14

Act utilitarianism (Bentham)

Answer 14

Calculating the consequences of each situation on its own merits

Question 15

Rule utilitarianism (Mill)

Answer 15

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

Question 16

Mill’s qualititive approach to pleasure

Answer 16

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

Question 17

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

Answer 17

an action is wrong if it involves harming another person

Question 18

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

Answer 18

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

Question 19

How to remember the hedonic calculus

Answer 19

Parmesan Cheese Produces Intense Delight For Everyone

Question 20

Bentham‘s influences: EPICUREUS

Answer 20

First philosopher suggesting ethics should be hedonistic

Question 21

Bentham‘s influences: DAVID HUME

Answer 21

First to suggest ethics should be concerned with utility

Question 22

What is hedonism

Answer 22

Pleasure and good are interchangeable terms

Question 23

What type of utilitarianism is the most commonly associated with Mill

Answer 23

Weak rule

Question 24

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

Answer 24

Gay sex

Question 25

What is the right action in utilitarianism

Answer 25

That leads to the greatest good for the greatest number of

Question 26

Where did Bentham suggest we were presented the utility principle

Answer 26

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

Question 27

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

Answer 27

Dropping a hot pan

Question 28

What did Oscar Wilde say about pleasures

Answer 28

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

Question 29

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

Answer 29

Naturalistic fallacy

Question 30

What is the starting point of AU

Answer 30

individuals

Question 31

What is the starting point of RU

Answer 31

Common good of society

Question 32

What did Bentham call human rights

Answer 32

Nonsense on stilts

Question 33

What did Mill say about AU being a swine ethic

Answer 33

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

Question 34

What is the tyranny of the majority

Answer 34

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

Question 35

What is McCloskey‘s racism example

Answer 35

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

Question 36

What did Bentham say about types of pleasure

Answer 36

Push penny is as good as poetry

Question 37

What is strong rule utilitarianism

Answer 37

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

Question 38

What are weak rule utilitarians

Answer 38

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

Question 39

What is preference utilitarianism

Answer 39

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

Question 40

What did Peter Vardy say on rule utilitarianism

Answer 40

Solves the problem of minority groups being discounted

Question 41

Who decides between higher and lower pleasures being superior

Answer 41

A competent judge

Question 42

Who is most commonly associated with preference utilitarianism

Answer 42

Peter Singer

Question 43

What role did Singer say we should take on

Answer 43

Impartial observer Our own preferences cannot take priority over others

Question 44

Hat does Singer classify as a person

Answer 44

A being that is capable of anticipating the future

Question 45

What is Robert Nozick‘s experience machine

Answer 45

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