Utilitarianism Flashcards
Describe events that are thought to have contributed to the rise of Utilitarianism
The Industrial Revolution, the urbanisation of society meant that many many worked in factories and were subject to the will of a single factory owner. In addition to this the Church also exerted control over the general population. Bentham thought that these conditions were exploitative and undemocratic.
List the philosophers who developed Utilitarianism
Jeremy Bentham, J.S. Mill, Peter Singer, R.M. Hare
Which adjectives could be used to describe Utilitarianism
Teleological, Relative, Consequential, Quantitative (Bentham), Qualitative (Mill), Hedonistic.
Explain Hedonism
A theory developed by the Ancient Greeks that argues that goodness is determined by the amount of pleasure it produces for you. (This is not the same as Utilitarianism as hedonism does not consider other people’s pleasure)
What are the 7 criteria of the Hedonic Calculus?
Purity – how free from pain it is Remoteness – how near it is Extent – how many people it affects Duration – how long it lasts Intensity – how powerful it is Certainty – how likely it is to result To be followed by– to what extent it will lead to other pleasures
What is the Hedonic Calculus?
Bentham’s way of measuring the amount of pleasure an action will produce.
What is a strengths of the Hedonic Calculus?
It give a clear method of calculating pleasure.
What is a weakness of the Hedonic Calculus?
It is time consuming.
It’s difficult to apply at you cannot predict future consequences.
Quote from Bentham about pleasure and pain.
“Nature has placed mankind under two sovereign masters; pain and pleasure”
Quote from Bentham about the intrinsic value of pleasure
“The question is not can it reason, can it talk , but can it suffer”
Quote from Bentham about democracy
“Everybody is to count for one and nobody for more than one. No person’s pleasure is greater than another’s”
Quote from Bentham about the Principle of Utility
“The good is that which will bring about the greatest sum of pleasure or the least sum of pain for the greatest number”
Quote from Bentham about qualitative nature of ethics
“quantity of pleasure being equal, push pin [a simple child’s game] is as good as poetry”
Quote from RM Hare about the need for empathy when discussing ethics
We need to “stand in someone else’s shoes”
Quote from Singer about the relativism
“I’m a Utilitarian, so I don’t see the rule against lying as absolute; it’s always subject to some overriding utility which may prevent its exercise ”
Quote from Singer about preferences
“Our own preferences cannot count any more than the preferences of others”
Quote from J.S. Mill about the Harm Principle
“Your freedom to punch me ends where my nose begins”
Quote from J.S. Mil criticising Bentham’s version of Utilitarianism
“A pig’s philosophy fit only for a swine”
Quote from J.S. Mil criticising Bentham and asserting the need for higher and lower pleasures
“Better to be a dissatisfied human being than a pig satisfied; and better to be a Socrates dissatisfied than a fool satisfied”
What is the most moral act according to Bentham?
One that produces the maximum amount of pleasure and the minimum amount of pain.
Explain why Bentham’s Utilitarianism is considered to be quantitative?
It considers only the amount of pleasure produced not the type of pleasure.
Explain why Mill’s Utilitarianism is considered to be qualitative?
It considers the type of pleasure produced not simply the amount. Mill states that higher pleasures, pleasures of the mind are far more valuable compared to lower pleasures that pleasure the body.
List 3 higher pleasures
Classical music, reading poetry, philosophy
anything that pleasures the mind
List 3 lower pleasures
Eating luxurious food, drinking alcohol, Sex.
anything that pleasures the mind
What, according to Bentham, is intrinsically good?
Pleasure
What, according to Mill, is intrinsically good?
Happiness
What, according to Singer, is intrinsically good?
Preferences
What is happiness according to Mill?
Happiness is something that people desire for it’s own sake, but we need to look at human life as a whole - happiness is not just adding up the units of pleasure but rather the fulfillment of higher ideals.
What is Rule Utilitarianism?
Mill argues that there needs to be some moral rules in order to establish social order and justice. These rules should be those which, if followed universally , would most likely produce the greatest happiness
What are six weaknesses of Bentham’s Utilitarianism?
- It is difficult to predict the consequences
- There is the potential to justify any act
- Mill argues that it is too animalistic - surely ethics should be based on something more than simply pleasure.
- There is no defense for minorities
- It is impractical to say that we should calculate the morality of each choice
- What is pleasure for one person might be painful to another
What are four weaknesses of Rule Utilitarianism?
- It is difficult to predict the consequences
- It is difficult to define what constitutes happiness
- There is no defense for minorities
- To invoke rules means that the approach becomes deontological not teleological
Peter Singer said we need to take whose viewpoint when discussing Preference Utilitarianism?
The viewpoint of the “impartial spectator”
What are four advantages of Utilitarianism?
- It is a common sense philosophy which people in the 20th century feel able to apply
- It is fair and suits a democratic society
- It is natural for people to consider the consequences of an action.
- it is a universal rule, applicable whatever the culture, religion or society.
What are five disadvantages of Utilitarianism?
- You cannot be certain of what gives other people pleasure, happiness or what is in their best interest. Indeed one persons pleasure might be someone else’s pain.
- No account is taken of situations where a person wants to do something irrespective of the consequences.
- It relies on an accurate prediction of consequences, which is not possible.
- A rule that benefits all is not always applicable in all situations.
- It praises those who have immoral intentions, but inadvertently cause beneficial consequences.
What are four strengths of Bentham’s Utilitarianism?
- It provides a clear mathematical method of deciding any course of action by balancing pleasure and pain which makes it easy to compare different options
- It is a popular approach to ethics because people do seek pleasure and avoid pain.
- It looks at the consequences of an action, this is a natural thing for humans to do.
- It is universally accessible regardless of religion, culture, and intelligence.
Explain why Mill’s Utilitarianism might be considered elitist?
Mill ranked pleasure into intellectual and physical pleasure. Often the intellectual pleasures, such as reading philosophy and poetry were that which would give pleasure to the Aristocracy or the Upper Class, whereas the physical pleasure are those that would have been enjoyed by the lower classes.
What is the Principle of Utility?
Simply put it is to do the greatest good for the greatest number.
Quote from Mill about the the importance of not ignoring minority groups
“If mankind minus one were of one opinion, then mankind were no more justified in silencing the one than the one – if he had the power – be justified in silencing mankind”
Explain Negative Utilitarianism
Simply put this version of Utilitarianism argues that we should do that which produces the least amount of pain for the greatest number (the opposite of Bentham’s version). It aims to solve the problem of ignoring minority groups.
Explain Ideal Utilitarianism
G.E. Moore argued that Utilitarianism should aim to maximise Ideals such a Justice, Equality and Beauty, rather than pleasure or happiness.
Explain why it might be argued that Utilitarianism is compatible with Christianity.
Situation Ethics has been dubbed by some as ‘Christian Utilitarianism’ as it seeks to maximise agape. Although many would argue that Situation Ethics itself is not compatible with Christianity!
Explain why it might be argued that Utilitarianism is not compatible with Christianity.
The consequential nature of Utilitarianism can mean any action can be permitted, including rape, torture, mass murder for example. The Bible clearly states that such actions are wrong.
