Utilitarianism

Question 1

Describe events that are thought to have contributed to the rise of Utilitarianism

Answer 1

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.

Question 2

List the philosophers who developed Utilitarianism

Answer 2

Jeremy Bentham, J.S. Mill, Peter Singer, R.M. Hare

Question 3

Which adjectives could be used to describe Utilitarianism

Answer 3

Teleological, Relative, Consequential, Quantitative (Bentham), Qualitative (Mill), Hedonistic.

Question 4

Explain Hedonism

Answer 4

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)

Question 5

What are the 7 criteria of the Hedonic Calculus?

Answer 5

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

Question 6

What is the Hedonic Calculus?

Answer 6

Bentham’s way of measuring the amount of pleasure an action will produce.

Question 7

What is a strengths of the Hedonic Calculus?

Answer 7

It give a clear method of calculating pleasure.

Question 8

What is a weakness of the Hedonic Calculus?

Answer 8

It is time consuming.

It’s difficult to apply at you cannot predict future consequences.

Question 9

Quote from Bentham about pleasure and pain.

Answer 9

“Nature has placed mankind under two sovereign masters; pain and pleasure”

Question 10

Quote from Bentham about the intrinsic value of pleasure

Answer 10

“The question is not can it reason, can it talk , but can it suffer”

Question 11

Quote from Bentham about democracy

Answer 11

“Everybody is to count for one and nobody for more than one. No person’s pleasure is greater than another’s”

Question 12

Quote from Bentham about the Principle of Utility

Answer 12

“The good is that which will bring about the greatest sum of pleasure or the least sum of pain for the greatest number”

Question 13

Quote from Bentham about qualitative nature of ethics

Answer 13

“quantity of pleasure being equal, push pin [a simple child’s game] is as good as poetry”

Question 14

Quote from RM Hare about the need for empathy when discussing ethics

Answer 14

We need to “stand in someone else’s shoes”

Question 15

Quote from Singer about the relativism

Answer 15

“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 ”

Question 16

Quote from Singer about preferences

Answer 16

“Our own preferences cannot count any more than the preferences of others”

Question 17

Quote from J.S. Mill about the Harm Principle

Answer 17

“Your freedom to punch me ends where my nose begins”

Question 18

Quote from J.S. Mil criticising Bentham’s version of Utilitarianism

Answer 18

“A pig’s philosophy fit only for a swine”

Question 19

Quote from J.S. Mil criticising Bentham and asserting the need for higher and lower pleasures

Answer 19

“Better to be a dissatisfied human being than a pig satisfied; and better to be a Socrates dissatisfied than a fool satisfied”

Question 20

What is the most moral act according to Bentham?

Answer 20

One that produces the maximum amount of pleasure and the minimum amount of pain.

Question 21

Explain why Bentham’s Utilitarianism is considered to be quantitative?

Answer 21

It considers only the amount of pleasure produced not the type of pleasure.

Question 22

Explain why Mill’s Utilitarianism is considered to be qualitative?

Answer 22

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.

Question 23

List 3 higher pleasures

Answer 23

Classical music, reading poetry, philosophy

anything that pleasures the mind

Question 24

List 3 lower pleasures

Answer 24

Eating luxurious food, drinking alcohol, Sex.

anything that pleasures the mind

Question 25

What, according to Bentham, is intrinsically good?

Answer 25

Pleasure

Question 26

What, according to Mill, is intrinsically good?

Answer 26

Happiness

Question 27

What, according to Singer, is intrinsically good?

Answer 27

Preferences

Question 28

What is happiness according to Mill?

Answer 28

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.

Question 29

What is Rule Utilitarianism?

Answer 29

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

Question 30

What are six weaknesses of Bentham’s Utilitarianism?

Answer 30

1. It is difficult to predict the consequences
2. There is the potential to justify any act
3. Mill argues that it is too animalistic - surely ethics should be based on something more than simply pleasure.
4. There is no defense for minorities
5. It is impractical to say that we should calculate the morality of each choice
6. What is pleasure for one person might be painful to another

Question 31

What are four weaknesses of Rule Utilitarianism?

Answer 31

1. It is difficult to predict the consequences
2. It is difficult to define what constitutes happiness
3. There is no defense for minorities
4. To invoke rules means that the approach becomes deontological not teleological

Question 32

Peter Singer said we need to take whose viewpoint when discussing Preference Utilitarianism?

Answer 32

The viewpoint of the “impartial spectator”

Question 33

What are four advantages of Utilitarianism?

Answer 33

1. It is a common sense philosophy which people in the 20th century feel able to apply
2. It is fair and suits a democratic society
3. It is natural for people to consider the consequences of an action.
4. it is a universal rule, applicable whatever the culture, religion or society.

Question 34

What are five disadvantages of Utilitarianism?

Answer 34

1. 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.
2. No account is taken of situations where a person wants to do something irrespective of the consequences.
3. It relies on an accurate prediction of consequences, which is not possible.
4. A rule that benefits all is not always applicable in all situations.
5. It praises those who have immoral intentions, but inadvertently cause beneficial consequences.

Question 35

What are four strengths of Bentham’s Utilitarianism?

Answer 35

1. 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
2. It is a popular approach to ethics because people do seek pleasure and avoid pain.
3. It looks at the consequences of an action, this is a natural thing for humans to do.
4. It is universally accessible regardless of religion, culture, and intelligence.

Question 36

Explain why Mill’s Utilitarianism might be considered elitist?

Answer 36

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.

Question 37

What is the Principle of Utility?

Answer 37

Simply put it is to do the greatest good for the greatest number.

Question 38

Quote from Mill about the the importance of not ignoring minority groups

Answer 38

“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”

Question 39

Explain Negative Utilitarianism

Answer 39

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.

Question 40

Explain Ideal Utilitarianism

Answer 40

G.E. Moore argued that Utilitarianism should aim to maximise Ideals such a Justice, Equality and Beauty, rather than pleasure or happiness.

Question 41

Explain why it might be argued that Utilitarianism is compatible with Christianity.

Answer 41

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!

Question 42

Explain why it might be argued that Utilitarianism is not compatible with Christianity.

Answer 42

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.