Utilitarianism Flashcards
What is utilitarianism?
A way of decision making that creates the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people
Who would you save if you were a Util?
10 orphans
1 famous person
1 famous person, because it would bring greater happiness to more people.
What is consequentialism?
Assessing the consequences to see if an act is ‘good’ (assessing pleasure/pain)
What is the greatest Happiness Principle?
Good actions maximise greatest happiness for greatest number
What is hedonic calculus?
Calculation of pleasure by hedons, Basically calculation what pleasure/pains an action would cause and therefore finding whether to pursue the action
(Bentham) What is the only intrinsic good?
Pleasure
How did Bentham believe pleasure could be measured?
empirically
Define Rule utilitarianism
Utility maximised by following rules
What was Mills utilitarian view based on
Welfare for the highest number of ppl
What does Qualitative pleasure mean?
- Higher pleasures= intellectual
- Lower pleasures= Bodily (sex etc.)
What is ‘weak rule util’?
Rules can develop and be broken
What is ‘Multilevel’?
generally follow rule utilitarianism and when a dilemma arises use act utilitarianism
What is a universal view?
When everyone’s interests are assessed equally (no special cases for children)
What does Singer argue for?
Preference Util (same as Hare)
What did Singer believe about income and wealth
we should re-locate income and wealth so that we are all equal
What does Singer believe about Abortion?
He believed it should be allowed and also infanticide should be allowed (Killing of infants)
What did he believe about Animals?
They have rights as beings with interest
about Singer?
- He has been banned form speaking in Germany because of his views on infanticide
- he gives 30% of his income away every year
Strengths of Singers views?(3)
Radical- committed to real equality
Animal Rights- Taken seriously
Simple- Ask people what they prefer
Weaknesses of Singers views? (3)
Immoral- Infanticide seems to cross the line
Implausible- Too much to expect people not to prefer e.g. own children
Unrealistic- How do we calculate preferences or consequences??
