Utilitarianism

Question 1

when did jeremy bentham devise this system of ethics

Answer 1

at the start of the industrial revolution

Question 2

at the time what did people rely on?

Answer 2

bible and tradition

Question 3

what did jeremy bentham say all we are sure about

Answer 3

we dislike pain and prefer pleasure.

Question 4

what did jeremy bentham suggest as a principle

Answer 4

the principle of utility

Question 5

what is the principle of utility

Answer 5

The greatest happiness for the greatest number

Question 6

what does egalitarian mean

Answer 6

each person is of equal worth

Question 7

what did bentham say to support egalitarian concepts

Answer 7

‘each is to count for one’

Question 8

how many steps are there in the hedonic calculus

Answer 8

7

Question 9

what did benthams come up with (calculus)

Answer 9

the hedonic calculus

Question 10

why do animals count in the calculus

Answer 10

because they also experience pleasure and pain

Question 11

what is benthams system of utilitarianism

Answer 11

consequentialist, relativist and quantitative

Question 12

whats consequentalist

Answer 12

what is good will depend on the circumstances

Question 13

why is benthams util quantitative

Answer 13

it takes into account the amount of people that are happy

Question 14

is benthams system act or rule util

Answer 14

ACT because he uses the hedonic calculus to judge each individual case on its own merits.

Question 15

what are strengths of benthams util

Answer 15

It is relativist and consequentialist and therefore flexible. What is right or wrong can depend on the circumstances and the intended outcome.
its egalitarian
animals count aswell because they experience pleasure and pain
We must consider other people’s preferences and act in the best interest of everyone involved – not just for our own selfish gain

Question 16

what are weaknesses of benthams util

Answer 16

consequences are hard to predict
It may be a threat to our own personal integrity
How do we decide where to draw a line around a set of circumstances ?
Relativist theories are flawed because we treat people differently – what is right in one circumstance is wrong in another – this is unfair !

Question 17

mill pushpin quote

Answer 17

All things being equal, pushpin is as good as poetry’

Question 18

what did mill think benthams util could lead to

Answer 18

the tyranny of the majority

Question 19

mill pig quote

Answer 19

‘Better to be a human being dissatisfied than a pig satisfied . . .

Question 20

mill fool quote

Answer 20

Better to be Socrates dissatisfied than a fool satisfied . . .’

Question 21

what does qualitative utilitarianism realise

Answer 21

recognises the importance of educating people – giving them an opportunity to experience “higher pleasures”

Question 22

would bentham agree with euthanasia

Answer 22

Bentham would concern himself with numbers . . . How acute is the patient’s suffering ? How do the family members feel ? Would the hospital bed be better used by a patient who has a better chance of recovery ? How much is it costing the NHS to keep this patient alive ?

Question 23

would mill agree with euthanasia

Answer 23

Mill would be more concerned with qualities of happiness . . . That the patient has a right to choose what happens to them; that they can die a dignifies death

Question 24

is mill act or rule util

Answer 24

he is rule utilitarianism

Question 25

weaknesses of mills utilitarianism

Answer 25

Mill could be accused of being an intellectual snob

how do we decide what higher pleasures are

Question 26

whats preference utilitarianism

Answer 26

it is util which does not concern itself with calculating happiness which is hard to define or compare. Instead it concerns itself with what would further the interests of most people

Question 27

whos an example of a preference utilitarian

Answer 27

peter singer

Question 28

how does preference util decide what is good

Answer 28

it considers the various trade-offs involved in a situation

Question 29

what example does peter singer give of trade offs

Answer 29

Peter Singer gives an example of a trade off using a battery farm. If we consider the sum of suffering we recognise that the chickens’ distress outweighs the farmer’s and consumers’ satisfaction. A trade off then will be to ban battery cages because consumers will recognise that more expensive eggs is better than animal cruelty.

Question 30

what does speciesist mean?

Answer 30

claiming human life is sacred above all other animals