Utilitarianism

Question 1

What is Bentham’s Hedonistic Utilitarianism?

Answer 1

Bentham believes that the morally right action is the action that maximises the the balance of pleasure over pain. By Utility Bentham means the sensations of pleasure. He also thinks that it ought the be calculated using his utility calculus.

Question 2

What are the 7 aspects in Bentham’s Calculus

Answer 2

1. The strength - How strong is it
2. The duration - How long it lasts
3. The certainty - How likely is the outcome
4. Propinquity - When will it occur?
5. Fecundity - What are the chances of pleasure happening
6. Purity - pleasure compared to pain
7. The extent - The number of people affected by the action.

Question 3

On the basis of Utilitarianism what else did Bentham argue?

Answer 3

• it is morally right to allow homosexuality as it would maximise their Utility
• Animals should be included in the calculation as they also can suffer
  -that all humans should count the same in the utility calculator

Question 4

What is Mill’s Qualitative Hedonistic Utilitarianism?

Answer 4

The Morally right action is the action that maximises the balance of pleasure. By Utility Mill means the sensations of higher quality pleasures, he claims that only these sensations are intrinsically valuable. Mill claims that Pleasure is only to be measured based not only on its quantity but also the quality of the pleasure. He sorts pleasures into higher and lower pleasures with the higher being worth more than the lower.

Question 5

What is Mill’s proof?

Answer 5

The only and best possible evidence for something being desirable is that it is desired. Each person’s happiness is desired, therefore their happiness is desirable to them. Therefore, happiness in general is desired.

Only happiness is desirable for its own sake, this makes it morally valuable and so should be maximised. Therefore, the right action is the one that tends to maximise general happiness.

Question 6

What is the main claim of preference utilitarianism?

Answer 6

The morally right action is the one that maximises the satisfaction of preferences.

Question 7

Explain preference utilitarianism

Answer 7

Preference utilitatrianism is the idea that the morally right action is the one that maximises the satisfaction of preferences. This isn’t hedonistic because there isn’t a reference to a sensation of pleasure. It is preference based because what matters is whether things are the way that people prefer them to be and whether things align with their desires

Question 8

Explain Act utilitarianism

Answer 8

The morally right action is the one that produces the most utility.

• actions are decided on a case by case basis meaning some actions will be right on one occasion and wrong on the other

Decision making is one stage - Which action produces the most utility?

Question 9

Explain Rule Utilitarianism

Answer 9

The morally right action is the one that is in accordance with the set of rules which, if accepted, produces the most utility.

• Actions are judged based on their conformity to predetermined rules meaning a type of action will always be right or wrong.

Decision making is 2 stages - 1) Which rule produces the max Utility
2) Which action fits the rule?