Utilitarianism

Question 1

Main scholars of Utilitarianism

Answer 1

Jeremy Bentham
John Stuart Mill
Peter Singer

Question 2

Jeremy Bentham

Answer 2

Utilitarianism on the majority- greatest good for the greatest number of people.

hedonic calculus
Utility principles

Question 3

Utilitarianism is a…

Answer 3

Teleological theory

Question 4

Jeremy Bentham is a hedonist, what is a hedonist?

Answer 4

Someone who believes that the greatest good is the equivalent to the greatest pleasure

Question 5

Utility principles

Answer 5

The belief that humans are motivated by pleasure and pain

Question 6

What is the Hedonic calculus

Answer 6

Its a way of calculating pleasure

Question 7

What are the 7 factors of the Hedonic calculus

Answer 7

Certainty
Intensity
Duration
Propinquity
Fecundity
Purity
Extent

Question 8

Hedonic calculus- Certainty

Answer 8

How sure are we that the pleasure/pain will occur

Question 9

Hedonic calculus- Intenisty

Answer 9

How strong is the pleasure/pain involved

Question 10

Hedonic calculus- Duration

Answer 10

How long will pleasure/pain last

Question 11

Hedonic calculus- Propinquity

Answer 11

How soon will pleasure/pain occur

Question 12

Hedonic calculus- Fecundity

Answer 12

How likely is that the pleasure will lead to more pleasure

Question 13

Hedonic calculus- Purity

Answer 13

How likely is that pain will result from original pleasure

Question 14

Hedonic calculus- Extent

Answer 14

How many people will be affected by

Question 15

John Stuart Mill

Answer 15

Focuses on:

• Higher and lower pleasure
• non harm principle

Question 16

Higher pleasure

Answer 16

Only humans can enjoy it. E.g art, spending time with friends

Question 17

Lower pleasure

Answer 17

Both humans and creatures can enjoy it. E.g sex, food

Question 18

What does the Swine ethic objection say about utilitarianism?

Answer 18

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

Question 19

What does John Stuart Mill say in relation to the Swine ethic objection?

Answer 19

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

Question 20

What is the non harm principle?

Answer 20

We should be able to live as we please as long as we don’t harm anyone

Question 21

Act Utilitarianism

Answer 21

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

Question 22

Rule Utilitarianism

Answer 22

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

Question 23

Types of Rule Utilitarianism

Answer 23

• Strong
• Weak

Question 24

Strong Rule Utilitarianism

Answer 24

Once a rule is decided, it cannot be changed

Question 25

Weak Rule Utilitarianism

Answer 25

If a rule is decided it can be changed if society changes

Question 26

Peter Singer

Answer 26

Preference Utilitarianism

Question 27

Preference Utilitarianism

Answer 27

Instead of looking at pleasure, it decides to look at the preference of most people

Question 28

What does Bernard Williams say about preference Utilitarianism

Answer 28

• Doesn’t require religious belief
• Basic good and preferences are reasonable
• Moral problems can be solved
• Straightforward

Question 29

Evidence of Bentham Utilitarianism

Answer 29

Moscow theatre siege 2002