Utilitarianism Flashcards
Main scholars of Utilitarianism
Jeremy Bentham
John Stuart Mill
Peter Singer
Jeremy Bentham
Utilitarianism on the majority- greatest good for the greatest number of people.
hedonic calculus
Utility principles
Utilitarianism is a…
Teleological theory
Jeremy Bentham is a hedonist, what is a hedonist?
Someone who believes that the greatest good is the equivalent to the greatest pleasure
Utility principles
The belief that humans are motivated by pleasure and pain
What is the Hedonic calculus
Its a way of calculating pleasure
What are the 7 factors of the Hedonic calculus
Certainty
Intensity
Duration
Propinquity
Fecundity
Purity
Extent
Hedonic calculus- Certainty
How sure are we that the pleasure/pain will occur
Hedonic calculus- Intenisty
How strong is the pleasure/pain involved
Hedonic calculus- Duration
How long will pleasure/pain last
Hedonic calculus- Propinquity
How soon will pleasure/pain occur
Hedonic calculus- Fecundity
How likely is that the pleasure will lead to more pleasure
Hedonic calculus- Purity
How likely is that pain will result from original pleasure
Hedonic calculus- Extent
How many people will be affected by
John Stuart Mill
Focuses on:
- Higher and lower pleasure
- non harm principle
Higher pleasure
Only humans can enjoy it. E.g art, spending time with friends
Lower pleasure
Both humans and creatures can enjoy it. E.g sex, food
What does the Swine ethic objection say about utilitarianism?
Utilitarianism treats pleasure as if we were pigs.
Pigs enjoy simple pleasures and humans enjoy higher pleasures.
This means gang rape wouldn’t be accepted with this system
What does John Stuart Mill say in relation to the Swine ethic objection?
“It is better to be a human dissatisfied than a pig satisfied”
What is the non harm principle?
We should be able to live as we please as long as we don’t harm anyone
Act Utilitarianism
Best of good and evil individually. Can break rules in certain situations.
E.g do not kill is a rule but killing in self defence is okay
Rule Utilitarianism
Best of good and evil but in society.
E.g Stealing is a rule and society must not do it as it brings about more pain to victim then pleasure to theif
Types of Rule Utilitarianism
- Strong
- Weak
Strong Rule Utilitarianism
Once a rule is decided, it cannot be changed
Weak Rule Utilitarianism
If a rule is decided it can be changed if society changes
Peter Singer
Preference Utilitarianism
Preference Utilitarianism
Instead of looking at pleasure, it decides to look at the preference of most people
What does Bernard Williams say about preference Utilitarianism
- Doesn’t require religious belief
- Basic good and preferences are reasonable
- Moral problems can be solved
- Straightforward
Evidence of Bentham Utilitarianism
Moscow theatre siege 2002
