Utilitarianism

Question 1

absolutist/objective

Answer 1

there is an absolute moral truth that all humans can access

Question 2

relativist

Answer 2

cultural-right or wrong depends on culture

moral-right and wrong depends on circumstances

Question 3

vulgar relativism

Answer 3

we have no right to criticise others because they are not ‘wrong’-they just do things differently

Question 4

subjectivism

Answer 4

depends on individual

Question 5

deontological

Answer 5

duty

Question 6

teleological/ consequestionalist

Answer 6

look at consequesnces

Question 7

hedonism

Answer 7

the purpose of life is to find happiness

Question 8

what did jeremy betham believe

Answer 8

the purpose of life is to find happiness-for the greatest number

Question 9

the principle of utility

Answer 9

greatest happiness for greatest number

Question 10

what is the hedonic calculus

Answer 10

duration
intensity
propinquinty
extent
certainty

Question 11

2 strengths of the hedonic calculus

Answer 11

• concerned with consequences

- practical

Question 12

what is tyranny of the majority

Answer 12

as long as most people want it, we will do it, not thinking about the group that are unhappy

Question 13

bentham system is quantitative, what is this

Answer 13

its all about the numbers of people who will be happy

Question 14

what did Mills believe

Answer 14

‘better to be a human being dissatisfied than a pig satisfied’

Question 15

what is qualitative research

Answer 15

quality matters more

Question 16

what is qualitative utilitarianism

Answer 16

recognises the importance of education-giving everyone equal opportunities for ‘higher pleasures’

Question 17

Give an example for Mill

Answer 17

euthanasia

Question 18

what is act utilitarianism

Answer 18

look at each individuals situation

Question 19

what is rule utilitarianism

Answer 19

will weigh up consequences

Question 20

what does a hard rule utilitarian believe

Answer 20

stick to the rules

Question 21

what does a soft utilitarian believe

Answer 21

some ruled must be broken to gain full happiness

Question 22

give a scholar who is an act utilitarian

Answer 22

Bentham

Question 23

give a rule utilitarian

Answer 23

Mill

Question 24

give 2 strengths of bethams utilitarianism

Answer 24

• practical

- very flexible

Question 25

give 2 strengths of benthams utilitarianism

Answer 25

• tyranny of the majority

- difficult to accurately predict consequences

Question 26

give 2 strengths for Mills utilitarianism

Answer 26

• minority are favoured

- practical

Question 27

give 2 weaknesses to Mills utilitarianism

Answer 27

• considered a snob

- how do we decide which pleasures are higher pleasures?

Question 28

what is preference utilitarianism

Answer 28

does not concern itself with happiness,concerns with what most people or animals would prefer

Question 29

who was a preference utilitarian

Answer 29

Peter Singer

Question 30

an example of preference utilitarianism

Answer 30

Battery farm

Question 31

what is a trade off

Answer 31

giving up something to make someone else happy/to make a change

Question 32

what is a speciest

Answer 32

humans are better than animals

Question 33

what is infanticide

Answer 33

its okay to kill babies if they have a severe disability

Question 34

2 strengths of peter singers views

Answer 34

• animals are included

- putting other people’s needs before their own

Question 35

give a weakness of peter singers views

Answer 35

-his ideas are dangerous