Utilitarianism

Question 1

What does a utilitarian look to give

Answer 1

the greatest good for the greatest number

Question 2

teleological or deontological

Answer 2

teleological

Question 3

If you are a utilitarian what is more important the act of the consequence

Answer 3

the consequence

Question 4

Three points that sum up Benthams Util

Answer 4

1) what drives human beings, i.e. ‘mankind is governed by two sovereign masters, pleasure and pain’- look to increase pleasure
2) Principle of utility- right/wrong can be determined by its usefulness (how much happiness to the greatest number)
3) Hedonic calculus

Question 5

7 Hedonic calculus

Answer 5

> intensity>fecundity>purity>extent>duration>certainty> remoteness

Question 6

How does the hedonic calculus work

Answer 6

weighs up pleasure and pain, to make a moral decision

Question 7

What is a utilitarian

Answer 7

a hedonist- pleasure seeker

Question 8

Who was John stuart Mill

Answer 8

The greatest philosopher of the 19th century

Question 9

What changes did Mill make to his util

Answer 9

He distinguished between quantitative and qualitative happiness- between higher and lower pleasures

Question 10

Mill was a …. util

Answer 10

a Rule utilitarian

Question 11

Lower pleasures including

Answer 11

mating, food, shelter (animalistic pleasures)

Question 12

Higher pleasures

Answer 12

e.g. going to the opera

Question 13

Mill said

Answer 13

> ‘higher pleasures are qualitatively better ‘>’It is better to be a human dissatisfied than a pig satisfied’

Question 14

Challenge of Mills utilitarianism

Answer 14

‘people tend to pursue bodily pleasure, pursue sensual indulgences to the injury of health, aware that health is the greatest good’

Question 15

What did mill think of Benthams Util.

Answer 15

that it lowered human nature to swine

Question 16

Advantages of util…

Answer 16

> common sense theory- applied easily> Natural to avoid pain and maximise pleasure> easy to understand> Important to bing happiness to the greatest number> Natural instinct to justify that the end is more important than the means> Democratic

Question 17

Disadvantages of util…

Answer 17

> Impossible to determine consequence of an action>Consequence may take years>Some pain is good for us>Sometimes the things that bring us happiness are not necessarily ‘good’> Act util has the potential to justify anything - sadistic guards
ignores the individuals motives
happiness of minorities not protected

Question 18

Main principles of Act utilitarianism

Answer 18

BENTHAM
>No ones happiness should be seen as more important than someone else’s
> Right acts are those with the happiest consequences to the greatest number
>Only amount of happiness caused matters
>’rightness or wrongness of an act is calculated by the amount of happiness from each individual act’
> flexible- takes into account the situation

Question 19

Criticisms of Act util

Answer 19

> potential to justify any act
Impractical to measure every moral choice on happiness
extreme results
some pains are good, some bad?

Question 20

Main principles of Rule util

Answer 20

MILL
>Individual actions are justified simply by appealing to the already established rules
>each action evaluated by consequence BUT no longer judged by utility but instead there are rules that judge what are rift or wrong
>rules appeal to the most people: provide greets happiness to greatest number

Question 21

Criticisms of Rule util

Answer 21

Could permit some laws like bringing back slavery, if it brings happiness to the greatest number

Question 22

General principles of Utilitarianism

Answer 22

the greatest happiness principles, teleological