Utilitarianism Flashcards
What does a utilitarian look to give
the greatest good for the greatest number
teleological or deontological
teleological
If you are a utilitarian what is more important the act of the consequence
the consequence
Three points that sum up Benthams Util
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
7 Hedonic calculus
> intensity>fecundity>purity>extent>duration>certainty> remoteness
How does the hedonic calculus work
weighs up pleasure and pain, to make a moral decision
What is a utilitarian
a hedonist- pleasure seeker
Who was John stuart Mill
The greatest philosopher of the 19th century
What changes did Mill make to his util
He distinguished between quantitative and qualitative happiness- between higher and lower pleasures
Mill was a …. util
a Rule utilitarian
Lower pleasures including
mating, food, shelter (animalistic pleasures)
Higher pleasures
e.g. going to the opera
Mill said
> ‘higher pleasures are qualitatively better ‘>’It is better to be a human dissatisfied than a pig satisfied’
Challenge of Mills utilitarianism
‘people tend to pursue bodily pleasure, pursue sensual indulgences to the injury of health, aware that health is the greatest good’
What did mill think of Benthams Util.
that it lowered human nature to swine
Advantages of util…
> 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
Disadvantages of util…
> 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
Main principles of Act utilitarianism
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
Criticisms of Act util
> potential to justify any act
Impractical to measure every moral choice on happiness
extreme results
some pains are good, some bad?
Main principles of Rule util
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
Criticisms of Rule util
Could permit some laws like bringing back slavery, if it brings happiness to the greatest number
General principles of Utilitarianism
the greatest happiness principles, teleological
