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Philosophy > Utilitarianism > Flashcards

Utilitarianism Flashcards

0
Q

What is utilitarianism?

A

An ethical consequentialist system of that the ‘right’ choice is the one with the most utility derived for the greatest number and the choice that minimises pain for the maximum number.

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1
Q

What was Jeremy Bentham’s (1748-1832) benthamite utilitarianism ?(the central tenet).

A

“It is the greatest happiness of the greatest number that is the measure of right and wrong”(Bentham S Fragment of government 1776). principle of utility.

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2
Q

What does Bentham suggest we use to measure the nature of type of pain or pleasure?

A

The hedonic calculus

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3
Q

What 7 things are in the hedonic calculus?

A 
Intensity
Duration
Certainty 
Propinquity or remoteness
Purity
Extent 
Fecundity
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4
Q

What is a consequentialist ethical system concerned with?

A

Outcomes of actions (consequences)

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5
Q

What is J.S Mills utilitarianism?

A

He takes on the central tenet of Benthamite utilitarianism , he is a follower of bentham’s work. But he suggests that intellectual pleasures have a “greater permanency ,safety ,uncostliness”etc .they are intrinsically purer as they cause purer pleasure in comparison to sensational pleasures.

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6
Q

What is Benthamite utilitarianism often referred as ?

A

A “philosophy for pigs”

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7
Q

J.S Mill quote

A

“Some kinds of pleasures are more desirable and more valuable than others”

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8
Q

Why are intellectual pleasures better?

A

They will produce a purer pleasure and more fecundity

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9
Q

What are advantages of act utilitarianism

A

-created in a time of great social divide ,treats everyone equally.”each is to count for one ,none to count for more than one”Bentham

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10
Q

What are the difficulties with benthamite utilitarianism? 4

A

Does this system treat animals as equally as humans?

Too egalitarian

W.d. Ross (1877-1971) life dilemmas are too complicated to rely on a single equation

Hedonic-time aspect ,not realistic.can pleasure be quantified? Is pleasure the same for everyone? Can we successfully make accurate predictions? Or take into account the double effect.

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11
Q

What is preference utilitarianism?

A

Peter singer ,in practical ethics suggests that pleasure should not be the principle consideration in a utilitarian ethical decision .preference utilitarianism is the “satisfaction of desires” it fulfils interests not simple pleasures.

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12
Q

Who was preference utilitarianism created by?

A

Peter Singer

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13
Q

What is a problem with preference utilitarianism?

A

Complex preferences

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14
Q

What would happen to a zygote under preference utilitarianism?

A

Early abortions or the morning after pill are not usually wrong, unless the mother has a preference not to do so as the zygote has no preferences.

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15
Q

Who was negative utilitarianism put forward by?

A

Karl popper

16
Q

What is negative utilitarianism ?

A

Focus upon the minimisations of suffering rather than the maximisation of happiness. Realistic.

17
Q

Why is negative utilitarianism good ?(2)

A

Realistic ,what most people try to avoid,

All humans tend to agree we should try to end human suffering,

18
Q

What is rule utilitarianism?

A

“The rightness or wrongness of a particular action is a function of the correctness of the rule or which it is an instance.”(Garner and Rosen).An action is right if it conforms to a rule leading to greatest good. No absolute rules.

19
Q

Advantage of rule utilitarianism ?

A

Rules aren’t absolute,

Breaking the rule could lead to greatest good for greatest number,

20
Q

What is act utilitarianism ?

A

No rules or guidelines,but greater utility must be produced than pain

21
Q

What are the problems with the hedonic calculus ?(3)

A

Can pleasure be quantified?
Is pleasure the same for everyone?
We can’t predict the future

22
Q

Why is pleasure and pain good and bad respectively ?

A

“No reason can be given why the general happiness is desirable ,e pact that each person,so far as he believed it to be attainable ,desires his own happiness” UTILITARIANISM by John Stuart Mill

22
Q

“Each person’s happiness is a good to that person,

A

And the general happiness,therefore,a good to the aggregate of all persons”UTILITARIANISM by John Stuart Mill

23
Q

What did Bentham want ?

A

To find a way of defining right and wrong without a need for transcendent authority.he was concerned about social reform.

24
Q

What does mill suggests regarding the hedonic calculus?

A

Not all pleasures an be equally assessed or considered using the calculus

25
Q

” it is better to be a human being

A

Dissatisfied that a pig satisfied “

26
Q

Advantages of utilitarianism(6)

A
  • avoids conflict of duties ‘keep a promise,tell a lie’
  • applicable to modern day situations whereas many deontological theories aren’t
  • ethical system based on things one is aware of (pain and pleasure) which are usually easy to recognise
  • gives the ability to make difficult moral decisions,better to kill 10 than 11
  • people already behave like this
  • it is difficult for an ethical system to make claims in what is The Good and The Bad because they are metaphysical not physical. Utilitarianism locates the good and bad in something physical ,tangible , which is agreed upon , pain and utility.
27
Q

Negative of utilitarianism (5)

A

The principle of fundamental and inalienable human rights appears to conflict with the idea of utility. The idea of utility can be seen to provide grounds to deny rights such as freedom of speech,right of assembly and even of life itself.

John Rawls (1921-present ) argues it’s too impersonal. In its pursuit of greater good utilitarianism disregards the rights of individuals.

Often gave imperfect knowledge.

Asks humans to operate in a wholly rational way

Requires one to act in a personally immoral way

28
Q

Situation by Phillippa Foot

A

Runaway trolley
5 people tied up
Pull lever 1 person

Philosophy (2 decks)

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