Utilitarianism

Question 1

Utilitarianism

Answer 1

• an ethics theory that advocates for actions to be done based on potential positive outcomes, regardless of the course of actions
• a results-based theory, striving for conditions that maximise preference or general wellbeing

Question 1

Utilitarianism’s process

Answer 1

• It puts numbers at the centre, concentrating on general well-wishing or benevolence, solidarity, identification with the pleasures and pans or welfare of people as a whole

Question 2

What is good?

Answer 2

• Identified with greatest happiness of the greatest number
• aim of the action is to advance the good

Question 3

Relevant Theorists?

Answer 3

Jeremy Bentham, James Mill, John Stuart Mill, Harriet Taylor (developed Bentham’s views)

Question 4

Another term for utilitarianism

Answer 4

• Consequentialist
• It is forward looking, looking as the results to access the actions

Question 5

Four points of utilitarianism

Answer 5

1. Something that is wrong may be justified by its consequences, if it is conducive to the general good
2. Fits with the gradualist approach towards ethical issues
3. Deals with values, where things are bad, or better or worse
4. the language of social goods

Question 6

Stance towards abortion?

Answer 6

• Look at the social conditions leading people to want abortions
• wonder about the benefits and harms from criminalising activity when asked of law

Question 7

Two types of Utilitarianism

Answer 7

• Classical act
• Rule
• Both are empirically based, emphasising living being try to avoid pain while actively searching for pleasure

Question 8

Explain classical act

Answer 8

• Focuses on the acts which maximises pleasure or happiness and minimizes pain
• Issue: not all pleasures are equally valuable e.g. sadist pleasures

Question 9

John Stuart Mill

Answer 9

• That desiring and finding pleasurable are the same, that individuals only cared for own pleasure while the general public for general pleasure, but it is a bad argument
• self-contradicting

Question 10

Rule utilitarianism

Answer 10

• attempt to meet the CA problem
• focusing on what political/moral rules could realize and maximise happiness, preferences and minimise pain

Question 11

Another problem with utilitarianism?

Answer 11

• The definitions of harm and please

Question 12

“Harm Principle”

Answer 12

• as a maximising rule
• any act that does not cause any direct of indirect harm to others should be accepted
• In harm and offence, the latter is not harm

Question 13

Harm principle, other Arguments

Answer 13

• Freedom of speech, women’s rights and equal status

Question 14

Freedom of Speech Example

Answer 14

• Words may cause discomfort or negative emptions, however, there is not real harm in blasphemy, thus it is not harm
• Some theorists do see blasphemy as harm -> question is whether problem stems from the act of reception feelings

Question 15

Peter Sing

Answer 15

• Preference utilitarianist

Question 16

Preference Utilitarianism

Answer 16

• Theoretical focus in the consequentialist analysis: the variety of preference in living beings (humans or not)

Question 17

Peter Sing Focus

Answer 17

• Maximising utility on innate feelings and the state of affairs, such as freedom, life and welfare
• adopts RU at practice but CAU in theory

Question 18

Act Utilitarianism theoretical concern is needed for wellbeing because

Answer 18

• to avoid rules that are short-sighted or counter-productive
• E.g. UN OECD recommendation to give 0.7% GNI, but cant be counterproductive where there is too much corruption
• Additional rule making needed for max efficiency

Question 19

Peter Sing Arguments

Answer 19

• From wide scope of preference and agency-issues
• animal rights, euthansia and infanticide
• global ethics, vegetarianism and worldwide distribution of economic resources

Question 20

Singer’s actions

Answer 20

• Donating 10-30% of income for 40 years

Question 21

David Hume

Answer 21

• Indirect utilitarianist
• Rules are justified by their impact on general happiness
• Law is justified by the safety of people, yet they need not be forward looking themselves and contingent on the benefits to be obtained on the occasion

Question 22

Sufficient emergency

Answer 22

• we can only gain general happiness and components such as security by implementing fairly inflexible rules; yet when things are bad enough, these firm rights will give way
• compromise as humans cannot manage without each other, structures in cooperation
• Consequentialist in conduct of life, rules and principles have the paramount authority that deontologists wish