Utilitarianism

Question 1

What is utilitarianism?

Answer 1

the justification for the greater good

Question 2

What is Utilitarianism’s focus?

Answer 2

Greatest happiness for greatest number

Question 3

It is a________ theory of ethics

Answer 3

teleological

Question 4

What does utilitarianism focus on in terms of actions?

Answer 4

Focuses on the result of an action, therefore, this makes it a consequentialist theory

Question 5

Which two theorists were involved with utilitarianism?

Answer 5

Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill

Question 6

Name an advantage of Utilitarianism

Answer 6

it can justify behaviour as ethical if it produces the greatest good for the greatest number

Question 7

What is meant by the term principle of utility?

Answer 7

the measure of the usefulness, fittingness for a purpose that an action may have

Question 8

Why is making moral judgements by the principle of utility difficult?

Answer 8

It is difficult because they are invariably subjective as different things are important to different humans

Question 9

What are hedonistic ethical theories?

Answer 9

equating pleasure and happiness to good on several possible grounds

Question 10

What did Bentham say?

Answer 10

-Bentham equated utility with happiness or avoidance of pain

Question 11

Bentham’s hedonic calculus measures…

Answer 11

whether an action should be considered right or wrong

Question 12

Define act utilitarianism

Jeremy Bentham

Answer 12

The belief that an action becomes morally right when it produces the greatest good for the greatest number of people

Question 13

Define rule utilitarianism

John Stuart Mill

Answer 13

The belief that the moral correctness of an action depends on the correctness of the rules that allows it to achieve the greatest good

Question 14

List the seven features of pleasure used when assessing an action by the hedonic calculus

Answer 14

Intensity-
Duration
Certainty
Propinquity
Fecundity
Purity
Extent

Question 15

Strengths for utilitarianism

Answer 15

• Each situation can be judged accordingly therefore it allows for flexibility
• The theory promotes happiness of the majority so it is democratic in its approach
• Helps individuals make moral decisions

Question 16

Weaknesses for utilitarianism

Answer 16

• Although it may be good to consider consequences, these are sometimes difficult to predict with accuracy
• It is difficult to quantify pleasure what one person classes as pleasure another might not
• It makes no allowance for personal relationships as it believes duties to a society are more important