Utilitarianism

Question 1

Define ‘principle of utility’ / greatest happiness

Answer 1

The idea that the choice that brings about the greatest good for the greatest number is the right choice

Question 2

Define ‘deontological’

Answer 2

Ethics focused on the intrinsic rightness or wrongness of an action

Question 3

Define ‘hedonic calculus’

Answer 3

The system for calculating the amount of pain or pleasure generated by an action

Question 4

Define ‘consequentialism’

Answer 4

Ethical theories which see morality as driven by the consequences rather than actions or people concerned

Question 5

Define ‘hedonistic’

Answer 5

Pleasure driven

Question 6

Define ‘act utilitarian’

Answer 6

Weighs up what to do at each individual occasion

Question 7

Define ‘rule utilitarian’

Answer 7

Weighs up what to do in principle in all occasions of a certain kind

Question 8

Who was the first utilitarian? Describe their approach

Answer 8

Jeremy Bentham (B. 18th Century)
Different approach to decision making other than Biblical obedience he was concerned about the effect of social reform on the masses

Question 9

Give a quote from Jeremy Bentham

Answer 9

“Nature has placed mankind under the governance of two sovereign masters, pain and pleasure”

Question 10

Why does Bentham believe pain and pleasure are our two masters?

Answer 10

Not divine authority because people will act to emphasise pleasure and minimise pain through observations of human life

Question 11

What does Bentham believe is NOT the motivator for human action?

Answer 11

God or human reason

Question 12

Why is Bentham sceptical of holy claims?

Answer 12

The don’t act in accordance to divine rule but instead to gain intrinsic pleasure e.g. Feeling generous or impressive

Question 13

Why did Bentham create the principle of utility?

Answer 13

To approve or reject every private and governmental action

Question 14

What does Bentham mean by utility?

Answer 14

The extent to which the action pursues happiness and avoids pain, utility is what moral behaviour should look to maximise

Question 15

What did Bentham believe should be the only affecting factor in decision making?

Answer 15

Balance between happiness and sadness cause not any idealised view

Question 16

What is used by the principle of utility?

Answer 16

Human instinct to seek pleasure but also a democratic prince and so the sum of the community must be considered not just the individual

Question 17

Give a quote from Bentham describing the measure of right and wrong

Answer 17

“It is the greatest happiness of the greatest number that is the measure of right and wrong… The business of government is to promote happiness of the society”

Question 18

How does utilitarianism compare to natural law?

Answer 18

Relativist and teleological like natural law but it assess the situation but the happiness or pain of the end result and so is democratic

Question 19

Name the seven factors of the hedonic calculus

Answer 19

• Intensity
• Duration
• Certainty
• Propinquinquity/ remoteness
• Fecundity = the likelihood of the consequences which follow to be pleasure or pain
• Purity = chance of no secondary consequences
• Number of people affected (extent)

Question 20

What controversial implications and criticisms are there of the hedonic calculus?

Answer 20

• Concern for quality of life if used to justify euthanasia/ abortion etc.
• How are pleasures and extent of measured when everyone has different desires
• Does anything change when individual wants are combined to communal

Question 21

Give a quote from J. S. Mill

Answer 21

“Human beings have faculties more elevated than the animal appetite and when made conscious of them do not regard anything as happiness which does not include their gratification”

Question 22

How did Mill distinguish pleasures?

Answer 22

Base: eating, drinking, sex, rest (inclusive of animals making humans no better than swine)
Higher: intellectual, aesthetic, social and spiritual

Question 23

Give a quote from Mill after describing the two types of pleasures

Answer 23

“It is better to be a human dissatisfied than a pig satisfied”

Question 24

What does Mill believe utilitarian mortality does recognise?

Answer 24

The possibility for human beings to act good for others and to renounce our own interests

Question 25

Describe the key features of act utilitarianism

Answer 25

Individualistic
Responsive to a particular situation
Case by case basis
No duty to adopt a particular approach
Traditional utilitarianism also sets aside rules
Maximises utility in every situation

Question 26

Give a disadvantage of act utilitarianism

Answer 26

Justifies lying which undermines the democratic intention of utilitarianism

Question 27

Describe the key features of rule utilitarianism

Answer 27

Establishing common good
Series of rules
Trust, justice and equality
Long term happiness by generic rules despite occasional short term pain
Promise keeping
Guide for people to live by

Question 28

Why does Bernard Williams support utilitarianism?

Answer 28

• not religious
• reasonable and basic
• common currency of moral thought

Question 29

Give a quote from Alasdair MacIntyre showing his critique of utilitarianism

Answer 29

“that men are happy with their lot never entails that their lot is what ought to be