Utilitarianism Flashcards
What is the ao1 spec for utilitarianism
The principle of utility
Rule utilitarianism
Act utilitarianism
Preference utilitarianism
What is the principle of utility
One absolutist moral principle that all utilitarians adhere to:
We should do whatever is useful in achieving the greatest balance of good over evil/pleasure over pain
Who was Jeremy Bentham
The first utilitarian, now associated with act utilitarianism
He reinterpreted the principle of utility to mean the greatest balance of pleasure over pain - sometimes referred to as the greatest happiness principle
Why does Bentham change the principle of utility to pleasure over pain, rather than good over evil
It is based on what is natural to us, as we have a natural instinct to seek pleasure and avoid pain
What is classical utilitarianism
Bentham and mills version of the theory
What is act utiitarianism
Considers issues individually on a case-by-case basis
What is the hedonic calculus
Bentham uses it to quantify which action will bring about the greatest good for the greatest number
What are the 7 factors of the hedonic calculus
Purity (will it lead to pleasure alone, or pleasure and pain)
Certainty
Propinquity (how soon will pleasure/pain happen)
Intensity
Duration
Fecundity (will it lead to more pleasure or more pain)
Extent (how many people)
What is the mnemonic for the 7 factors of the hedonic calculus
Parmesan cheese produces intense delight for everyone
How is act utilitarianism individualistic
You work it out by yourself
What is rule utilitarianism
Considers issues generally and makes rules to cover a range of situations based on experience of what typically leads to overall utility
What are the two types of rule utilitarianism and what do they mean
Strong rule - no exceptions to the rule
Weak rule - make allowances for exceptional cases
What did js mill do for rule utilitarianism
Believed some pleasures are superior to others (higher pleasures) - e.g reading
Created liberty principle
What is the liberty principle
Created by js mill, states society should only adopt laws that prevent harm to others
Individuals should be free to live as they choose as long as they don’t cause harm to others
What is preference utilitarianism
The idea that the greatest balance of good over evil is brought about when the greatest amount of personal preferences are maximised
