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Religious Studies🙏🏽 > Utilitarianism > Flashcards

Utilitarianism Flashcards

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1
Q

What type of theory is Utilitarianism?

A

Teleological theory

Consequentialist

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2
Q

Teleological

A

Goodness or badness is determined by the results or outcomes

- the end justifies the means

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3
Q

Consequentialist

A

Looks at the consequences of an action

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4
Q

Bentham’s idea of the ‘principle of utility’

A

‘The greatest happiness for the greatest number’

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5
Q

Utility

A

The usefulness of the results of actions

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6
Q

Hedonistic theory

A

‘Good’ is determined in terms of happiness and pleasure

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7
Q

Hedonism

A

Term used to describe an attitude that makes happiness the goal of life

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8
Q

Epicureans thought of pleasure

A

Intellectual enjoyment was a pleasure worth seeking

- mental pleasure was better than physical

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9
Q

Hedonic calculus

A

Takes all the available option in a scenario then weighs up the pain and pleasure

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10
Q

John Locke + David Hume - source of information

A

Empiricists focused on information from the world rather than just logic alone

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11
Q

Bentham’s view of happiness

A

Humans work to achieve happiness

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12
Q

Strengths of Utilitarianism

A
  • Recognises we have a strong internal conviction that an action can not be right
  • Easier to apply in ethical decision making
  • Removes need to work out how best to apply principle of utility
  • Allows some flexibility
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13
Q

Weaknesses of Utilitarianism

A
  • Mill does not provide a way to categorise pleasures
  • Needs a lengthy analysis about how to behave
  • Difficulty knowing when rules can be broken
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14
Q

Rule Utilitarianism

A

= John Stuart Mill

  • Qualitative
  • Right action = follows rules
  • Universal morals
  • Happiness over pleasure
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15
Q

Act Utilitarianism

A

= Jeremy Bentham

  • Quantitative
  • Right action = maximises pleasure, minimises pain
  • End justifies the means
  • Hedonic calculus
  • works out rules for each situation
  • Principle of utility
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16
Q

John Stuart Mill

A
  • a Hedonist
  • stressed happiness over pleasure
  • did not agree with the quantitative emphasis in Bentham’s approach
17
Q

Qualitative

A

looking at the quality of the pleasure

18
Q

Mill said “…”

A

“better to be a human being dissatisfied then a pig satisfied”

  • quality of the pleasure that counts
19
Q

Mill’s belief about pleasure

A

Higher pleasures are intellectual ones, distinguishing difference between human and animal pleasures

20
Q

Higher pleasure

A

satisfy the mind

21
Q

Lower pleasure

A

satisfy the body

22
Q

Strong Rule Utilitarianism

A

General rules deduced should not be broken

23
Q

Weak Rule Utilitarianism

A

General rules deduced can be broken

24
Q

Factors of Act Utilitarianism

A
  • judged every situation individually and in isolation from the community
  • flexible but time consuming
  • could not be used to justify anything
25
Q

Factors of Rule Utilitarianism

A
  • practical to use when creating rules for society
  • there needed to be general rules in order for a happy society to function
  • can sacrifice individual pleasure
26
Q

Harm Principle

A

Action of individuals only limited to prevent harm to other individuals

27
Q

Instrumentally good

A

Actions are determined right or wrong by what they produce

28
Q

Universalisable

A

Linked to Mill’s Rule Utilitarianism, the ethical rule should apply to all

29
Q

Weaknesses of the Hedonic Calculus

A
  • confusing to follow for different situations
  • time consuming
  • subjective of the measure of happiness/pain
  • not personal enough
  • too general to all situations
30
Q

Preference Utilitarianism

A

Moral actions are right or wrong according to how they fit the preferences of those involved
- does not require experience

31
Q

Singer’s appproach

A

Concerned with minimising suffering rather then maximising pleasure

  • considers the preference of all involved (including animals)
  • there is a greater agreement about what causes pain than that which gives you pleasure
32
Q

Strengths: Negative Utilitarianism

A
  • more ways to do harm than good

- someone would rather ensure against pain before pursuing happiness

33
Q

Weaknesses: Negative Utilitarianism

A
  • does not recognise that some suffering may be valuable

- may be vulnerable to ‘experience machine’ objective + if the aim is just to avoid pain

34
Q

Strength: Preference Utilitarianism

A
  • people can clearly state what their preference is in the situation
  • easier to satisfy preferences
35
Q

Weaknesses: Preference Utilitarianism

A
  • difficulties making decisions
  • not recognising the preference of certain individuals
  • some people may not be able to express their true preference

Religious Studies🙏🏽 (12 decks)

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