Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Ethics > utilitarianism > Flashcards

utilitarianism Flashcards

1
Q

who created act utilitarianism?

A

Jeremy Bentham

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

social background

A

. industrial revolution
. people moving to cities expecting streets to be paved with gold
. appalling working conditions
. revolution in france and america

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

what did he say about pain and pleasure?

A

.moral decision ls increases pain and decreases pleasure
. make choice on what will bring most pleasure

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Bentham’s utilitarianism can be divided into 3 parts?

A
  1. his view on what drives and motivates humans
  2. the principle of utility, his moral rule
  3. the hedonic calculus
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q
  1. his view on what drives and motivates humans
A

. humans are motivated by pleasure and pain
. therefore can be called a hedonist
. bentham believed all humans pursued pleasure and sought to avoid pain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q
  1. the principle of utility, his moral rule
A

. the utility principle
. the rightness or wrongness of an action can be determined by its utility or usefulness
. usefulness refers to the amount of pleasure or happiness caused by the action
. this is often known as the greatest happiness principle

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q
  1. The hedonic calculus
A

. a purely quantitative way of measuring seven factors :
. intensity
. duration
. certainty
. propinquity
. richness
. purity
. extent

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

what is intensity?

A

how deep or superficial the happiness is

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

what is duration ?

A

how temporary or permanent the happiness is

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

what is certainty?

A

how sure the happiness is

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

what is propinquity ?

A

how near or remote the happiness is

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

what is richness ?

A

how likely the happiness is to recur or lead to further happiness

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

what is purity?

A

how free from pain the happiness is

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

what is extent ?

A

how far the happiness- giving effects of an action will spread

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

quote for bentham’s views on what motivates humans

A

“ nature has placed mankind under the governance of two sovereign masters, pain and pleasure. It is for them alone to point out what we ought to do , as well as to determine what we shall do “ (1789 chapter 1,1)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

what is hedonic utilitarianism?

A

.it is moral fact for Bentham that pleasure and pain identity what we should or should not do
. pleasure is sole good
. pain is soul evil

17
Q
  1. principle of utility shortened
A

“ an action is right if it produces the greatest good for the greatest number “

18
Q

what is the greatest good ?

A

greatest pleasure or happiness and the least amount of pain

19
Q

what is the greatest number ?

A

the majority of people

20
Q

define the term good

A

maximisation of pleasure and the minimisation of pain

21
Q

who created rule utilitarianism?

A

John Stuart Mill ( 1806-1872)

22
Q

who was John stuart mill ?

A

. a child prodigy
. the son of a good friend of Jeremy Bentham
. an MP
. greatest philosopher of the 19th century

23
Q

J.S Mill and utilitarianism

A

. he wrote on the subjugation of women which became a major influence on modern feminism
. His ethics were contained online on liberty (1859)and Utilitarianism (1861)

24
Q

what was Mill’s thoughts on utilitarianism?

A

He believed the well being of the individual is what was most important and this was effectively gained when individuals can pursue their own ends, subject to the rules that protect the common good of all. he also excepted the principle of utility but was concerned it could justify the suffering of the minority in some cases.

25
Q

mills utilitarianism

A

Mill recognised a flaw in bentham’s theory that by measuring pleasure quantitatively it allowed the pleasure of the majority to eliminate the pleasure of a few in certain cases e.g. sadistic guards

mill looked at the idea of qualitative pleasures and i traduced higher and lower pleasures , preferring higher ones to lower ones

26
Q

Mills higher and lower order pleasures quotes

A

“it is better to be a human dissatisfied than a pig satisfied; better to be socrates dissatisfied than a fool satisfied “
( Mill 1863, chapter 2)

27
Q

what are higher order pleasures ?

A

Pleasures of the mind were higher than pleasure of the body

although there is a link to pursue bodily pleasures was not as high an objective as those which are more intellectually demanding

28
Q

act utilitarianism - animal testing

A

allow
duration of happiness
hedonic calculus
greatest good for greatest number
nothing in this theory protecting minority

not allow
“ why should the law refuse its protection to any sensitive being ?” jeremy bentham
considered a pioneer of animal right
“ pushpin is as good as poetry”

29
Q

rule utilitarianism - animal testing

A

allow

animals pleasures and pains do not compare to their human counterparts, in terms of value animals do not appreciate higher pleasures and cannot, therefore operate as utilitarian beings

need animals for higher pleasures , stepping stone to reach pleasures

“better to be a human dissatisfied than a pig satisfied”

weak rule - harm principle but animals are not as valuable

help society not animals - harm principle

not allow

harm principle protecting minorities

weak rule - laws allow animal testing
rule should be broken

harm principle protecting
humans

30
Q

act utilitarianism - nuclear weapons allow

A

hedonic calculus- happiness is going to be extent , greater good of majority , eventually fecundity

duration long lasting peace , greeted good for greatest number

“ an action is right if it produces the greatest good for the greatest number “

31
Q

act utilitarianism- nuclear weapons
not allow

A

not always certain - not lead to peace, could encourage and create more violence

purity - not pure , violence is used richness
money used for nuclear weapons could go to 3rd world countries for aid , or other problems not greatest good for greatest number , pleasure should not be built on nuclear weapons

32
Q

rule utilitarianism - nuclear weapons
allow

A

quantity of happiness - can have in future , remove enemy to have higher pleasures in future
weak rule utilitarianism protecting minority

33
Q

rule utilitarianism - nuclear weapons
not allow

A

go against harm principle
not a high pleasure
protecting minority
“ better to be a human dissatisfied than a pig satisfied; better to be socrates dissatisfied than a fool satisfied “

Ethics (4 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions