Utilitarianism

Question 1

What are the key claims of utilitarianism?

Answer 1

An action should be judged wrong or right solely on the basis of its consequences

My assessing consequences, only the balance of happiness and unhappiness of all matters

Each persons happiness counts equally

Question 2

Classical utilitarianism

Answer 2

Bentham and Mill in the 18th-19th century

ALWAYS ACT SO AS TO BRING ABOUT THE GREATEST HAPPINESS TO THE GREATEST NUMBER

Morally, only the consequences matter.

Bentham declared happiness as pleasure. In the 20th century, desire/preference satisfaction tended to account for happiness

Question 3

Mills definition

Answer 3

Utility, or the greatest happiness principle, holds that actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness. By happiness is intended pleasure and the absence of pain; by unhappiness, pain, and the probation of pleasure.

Question 4

How do you calculate which action will produce the most happiness?

Answer 4

Felicific calculus

Calculate the net happiness, including suffering, that may occur

Question 5

Mills development on utilitarianism

Answer 5

Divided pleasures/happiness into higher and lower pleasures as decided by competent judges.

BETTER TO BE A HUMAN DISSATISFIED THAN A PIG SATISFIED. BETTER TO BE SOCRATES DISSATISFIED THAN A FOOL SATISFIED.

This could affect treatment choices if applied to medicine. The level of pleasure which patients could enjoy.

Question 6

Act utilitarianism

Answer 6

Always act so as to produce the greatest happiness to the greatest number.

Question 7

Rule utilitarianism

Answer 7

Always do the action which confirms to a rule, the general acceptance of which would produce greater happiness than any alternative.

Question 8

What are the implications of utilitarianism on medical treatment if applied?

Answer 8

QALYs
Public health
Sentience and moral status - ability to feel pain as sentience; implications for foetus, PVS patients, ancephalic babies
Resource allocation
Following guidelines
Minimisation of pain and suffering

Question 9

Strengths of utilitarianism

Answer 9

Intuitive
Simple
Impartial
Universal

Question 10

Weaknesses of utilitarianism

Answer 10

Problems ascertaining true consequences

Gap between foreseen, predicted, and actual consequences

Does not allow for moral proximity

May justify atrocities in name of greater good

Moral paralysis - lack of spontaneity

Consequences are not the only morally relevant thing

Question 11

Criticisms of utilitarianism

Answer 11

Conflicts with justice - McCloskey’s Lynch mob

Does not recognise rights

Excluded backwards looking reasons

Too demanding

Disrupts personal relationships

Requires impartiality

Question 12

Retorts to utilitarianism

Answer 12

Utility should be used as a guide for rules not acts

Common sense is wrong

All values have a utilitarian basis - consequences

Focus on all consequences imaginable