Utilitarianism

Question 1

Concepts:
~Universal
~Utility- the amount of pleasure or happiness caused by an action
~ Principle of utility- greatest good for greatest number
~Hedonism- seeking pleasure avoiding pain
~Consequentialist
~Relativism- right of based on societal norms

Answer 1

Context:
Early use of utilitarianism in 18th century, I’m the industrial revolution, like child labour laws and rights could be bought
Reforms:
Bentham was responsible for reforms because of the utilitarian approach
Mill wrote subjugation of women, one of the ideas behind modern feminism

Question 2

Benthams Hedonic:
Pleasure is the sole good and pain is the sole evil
Strengths:
~ it’s reasonable
~it’s common sense
~promotes general happiness and doesn’t support individual pursuits at expense of majority
Weaknesses:
~depends on predictions of the future
~ may not see consequences for years to come
~ Bentham would allow evil majority
~too impersonal

Answer 2

Mills higher and lower pleasure:
Emphasis of quality rather than quantity
‘It’s better to be a human dissatisfied than a pig satisfied’
Strengths:
~focuses on individualism
‘Individual has sovereign over himself’
~clearer than Bentham- more forward thinking
Weakness:
~Sidgewick says it’s impossible to distinguish between higher and lower
~ fails to consider bodily pleasures which are intellectually tasking

Question 3

Preference:
GE MOORE: an act is right if it fits the preference, best interests
We should take the views on the impartial spectator
Strength: happier, peaceful world
Weakness: allows swine ethics, murder

Answer 3

Ideal:
PETER SINGER: if an act is right it maximises overall good and produces best outcome
Strength: measured with goodness to create and ideal world
Weakness: no common sense