Utilitarianism

Question 1

What is Utilitarianism? (the general theory)

Answer 1

The principle of utility states that, ‘you should always try to bring about the greatest happiness for the greatest number. It is a hedonistic theory claiming that what is good is as much pleasure or happiness for the majority of people.
• ‘Act’ utilitarianism is when the theory is applied to everyone’s individual acts to see whether they are good or bad. An act if right if and only if it maximises pleasure/happiness compared to available alternatives.
• ‘Rule’ utilitarianism is when the principle of utility is brought to bear on the code of rules by which society abides and only indirectly with the actions which are in accordance with these rules.
• It is a consequentialist theory, so results are what matters.
• Happiness is an intrinsic good. It is what we should value above all else.

Question 2

Explain Mill’s version of utilitarianism

Answer 2

Mill claims that man has a higher intellectual capacity than that of a pig. A pigs pleasures do not satisfy a humans conceptions of happiness. Humans have higher faculties, a higher intellectual complexity so gets pleasure from Shakespeare not just rolling around in the mud. When humans realise this, they don’t regard anything as happiness that doesn’t include their gratification. This is why Mill introduces he concepts of higher and lower pleasures; due to humans higher intellectual capacity. Some kinds of pleasures are more desirable and more valuable than others. Mill argues
that IT WOULD BE ABSURD IF THE VALUE OF PLEASURES WERE SUPPOSED TO DEPEND ON QUANTITY ALONE.

Question 3

Explain Bentham’s version of utilitarianism

Answer 3

Bentham-QUANTITY
Bentham first states that humans are ruled by pleasure and pain. They govern us in all we do and think. Any attempt to suggest otherwise will link back to the concept that we strive for pleasure and to avoid pain. The PRINCIPLE OF UTILITY recognises this and it is the foundation of utilitarianism. The utility part is the ability to produce pleasure (advantage, benefit, good) and to prevent pain (mischief, evil) for the party in question. The party may be an entire community or an individual. The interests of the community is the sum of the interests of its members. It is futile to talk of the interests of the community without understanding the interest of the individual. ‘Promote the interests of the individual if it tends to increase the sum of their total pleasure or lessen the sum of his pains.’ Bentham is in the realm of probability. ‘It will most likely lead to happiness…’

Question 4

What is preference utilitarianism? (Peter Singer).

Answer 4

Preference utilitarianism is similar to act and rule utilitarianism. It states that what we should do is not maximise happiness or pleasure, but maximise the satisfaction preferences. There are 4 key things to remember about preference utilitarianism:
• Satisfying preferences may sometimes bring about pleasure but not always—people may prefer to avoid pain rather than be provided with pleasurable experiences.
• People have preferences about what happens when they are not around (wills, funerals, etc…) and satisfying these seems right even when they are not here to feel pleasure or be happy.
• Pleasure seems crude and reductive of what people want.
• Individual ideas of happiness are not comparable so they are not measurable; satisfaction of preferences can be measured more easily. Therefore, it is a better approach to political questions such as questions about the distribution of resources

Question 5

Give six advantages of Utilitarianism

Answer 5

Advantages of Utilitarianism
• Promotes what everyone actually wants
• It is simple, one rule is for all situations
• It is democratic, so each person’s happiness is taken into account
• It is scientific, based on observation and measurement
• It is secular, there is no God involved and is centred around a naturalistic basis.

Question 6

Give nine criticisms of Utilitarianism

Answer 6

Criticisms of Utilitarianism
• The happy torturer problem
• Tendency for it to fall into ethical egoism. Too independent, why not be voted by just my individual happiness?
• Can it be verified? Can you say all our actions are determined by pain or pleasure?
• Is alturism (Putting the interests of others above your own) impossible? At the heart of every action is really your own motive.
• No true Scotsman example
• Is act Utilitarianism too demanding?
• The cinema and the tramp example
• Is quantity of pleasure the only thing that counts?
• Nozick’s ‘experience machine’