Utilitarianism Flashcards
What is the principle of utility?
The greatest happiness for the greatest number
Why did Jeremy Bentham create utilitarianism?
Because he wanted to develop an ethical theory which established whether a thing was good or bad based on its benefit to majority of people.
What does the principle of utility refer to?
The principle of utility refers only to individual actions by individuals, the idea being that if more individuals try to do actions that create a bigger amount of happiness to a larger amount of people, the happier the world would be.
How is ‘good’ defined?
‘Good’ is defined in terms of pleasure or happiness- so an act is right or wrong according to the good or bad results from the act and the good act is more pleasurable.
What is an example of Bentham’s theory being quantitative?
If killing one person made 100 people happy, then it would ethically be the right thing to do because it is creating more happiness and pleasure than it is pain and suffering.
What is utilitarianism based on?
It is based on ancient hedonism, which pursued physical pleasure and avoided physical pain.
What equation sums up utilitarianism?
Happiness = pleasure - pain
What is the hedonic calculus?
The Hedonic Calculus is what Jeremy Bentham used to measure pleasure and pain.
What is the seven criteria of the hedonic calculus?
Duration Remoteness Certainty Intensity Fecundity Purity Extent
What does Bentham argue we should be guided by ?
Bentham argued that we should be guided by the principle of utility rather than rules.
What does Bentham’s utilitarianism see the highest good as ?
Bentham’s utilitarianism sees the highest good as the greatest happiness for the greatest number.
What is the explanation of duration in the hedonic calculus ?
How long will the pleasure last?
What is the explanation of intensity in the hedonic calculus ?
How the strong is the pleasure?
What is the explanation of purity in the hedonic calculus ?
How secure is the pleasure?
What is the explanation of extent in the hedonic calculus ?
How many people will be affected?
What is the explanation of fecundity in the hedonic calculus ?
What is the likelihood that a succession of pleasures will follow?
What is the explanation of in certainty the hedonic calculus ?
How likely or unlikely is it that the pleasure will occur?
What is the explanation of remoteness in the hedonic calculus ?
How soon will the pleasure occur?
What did Mill want to address about Bentham’s approach?
Mill want to address the weaknesses that Bentham’s quantitative approach had.
What does Mills qualitative approach mean?
It protects individuals by stopping the exploitation of individuals to create happiness for a larger amount of people. it stops the majority achieving a goal simply because they are a majority.
What is Mill’s famous quote?
’ It is better to be a human dissatisfied than a pig satisfies; better to be Socrates dissatisfied than a fool satisfied’
What does Mill’s famous quote mean?
You may find a life in pursuit of higher pleasures more difficult - but it will be more rewarding and o a better quality.
What does Mill distinguish about the lower and higher pleasures?
That a competent person who has had experiences of both philosophy and drugs will prefer the pleasure of philosophy as it is a pleasure of the mind and therefore a higher pleasure.
What are lower pleasures?
Food, drink, drugs and sex.
