Utilitarianism Flashcards
The standard off of which human action can be judged is called what?
First Principle
Why does intuitionism not eliminate the need for a First Principle?
Mill was an empiricist, so we can only be sure of what we know via our senses. Our thoughts cannot be empirically observed and are therefore not reliable.
Why must there be a consistent foundation for all morality?
Morality does not seem to have changed very much. If it has not changed much, then we must have some kind of foundation.
What does Mill think about people who reject utilitarianism?
They are just closet utilitarians. Kant, for example, he argues is really just a utilitarian.
Why is Kant not a utilitarian?
His categorical imperative is a test of rationality and not of utility
Why could utilitarianism be considered to be a swine philosophy?
It reduces life to the mere seeking of pleasure
Replies to the criticism that utilitarianism is a ‘swine philosophy’ (2)
1) One needs to use the mind and the spirit in order to access these base pleasures
2) Mental pleasures are superior to physical pleasures.
What is the difference between a mental and physical pleasure
Mental pleasures are superior to physical pleasures.
Physical pleasures are things like base satisfaction from material things like food
Mental pleasures have long-lasting implications and involve things like education
Problems with Mill’s response to the ‘swine philosophy’ criticism
1) Mill does not say what exactly separates higher from lower pleasures; he argues that it is just a fact.
2) Are the competent judges really going to be impartial?
3) This would not work in government. People like some lower pleasures but Mill says the gov should only focus on higher pleasures like art and education
What does Crisp argue with regards to the division between higher and lower pleasures?
There is no indication as to what exactly separates them.
What does Ryan argue with regards to the competency of the judges?
Can judges really be impartial?
They have to have not only done both the lower and higher pleasures but they have to have actually enjoyed them. For example, when you are deciding between the pleasures of Aristotle and whiskey, you need someone who has actually enjoyed both
What is the role of the competent judges?
They are the people who have experienced both higher and lower pleasures. We should refer to them when determining the correct course of action
What is Mill’s response to the criticism that happiness is unattainable? (2)
1) If happiness is unattainable, we should still strive for it in avoidance of pain.
2) Happiness is attainable so the criticism is null
What are the major sources of unhappiness?
Selfishness and a lack of mental cultivation
What is Mill’s response to the criticism that utilitarianism is too demanding? (2)
1) What is right exists as a duty because of the intended consequences. Even if the motive is impure, then the actin can still be pure
2) You don’t have to be this ‘great reformer’. You only have to create good in your own vicinity. Only those in the public sphere must think about such reformation
Problems with Mill’s response to the criticism that utilitarianism is too demanding? (2)
1) We can rarely predict consequences
2) If the laws imposed are absolute in nature, is Mill a deontologist?
How does Mill respond to the criticism that utilitarianism is too cold?
An act is evaluated differently according to character. Just because utilitarianism requires one to maximise utility does not mean that you also cannot recognise a virtuous character
How does Mill respond to the criticism that utilitarianism is a godless doctrine? (2)
1) It is dependent on what we believe the desires of Gos to be. If God wishes the most happiness for him, then he is a utilitarian
2) God’s rules are like strong rule utilitarianism because one suffers when they disobey his rules
How does Mill respond to the criticism that any action can be justified simple by saying that you were maximising happiness?
If someone justifies sin based on utilitarianism, then they haven’t understood it.
How does Mill respond to the criticism that utilitarianism is too complicated and unnecessary?
Knowledge of the past and the present allows us to quickly predict a response.
EG in Christianity, the Bible is not consulted before every decision
Analogy of the Sailor
When navigating, the sailor does not ignore all of the existing guidance from sailors before him (maps etc). He uses their past experience to provide him with simple guidance
In what chapter does Mill address the criticisms of utilitarianism?
Chapter 2
What is the First Principle?
Pleasure and the absence of pain are the only things that are desirable as ends in themselves.
This forms the standard off of which human action can be judged
Why do secondary principles (e.g. do not lie) have value?
They further pleasure
How do we discern secondary principles?
Wisdom
What is the aiming for higher pleasures over lower pleasures called?
Relative quality of pleasure
Why is having a noble character good?
Even if the person with the character may be less happy, the rest of the society gains happiness from it.
What does Mill call the subjective feelings of one’s own mind?
Internal Sanctions
How can internal sanctions be cultivated in a utilitarian manner?
Education to encourage the pursuit of utility
How should we treat the voice of the conscience?
We should ignore it. External sanctions should suffice for a moral code.
What does Mill call things like the law and the sanctions that govern the legality of our actions?
External Sanctions
Why are external sanctions important?
They guide the actions of those who have not had sufficient development in their moral awareness
How could cultural relativism fit into Utilitarianism?
External sanctions can impose artificial moral principles upon us EG in a totalitarian regime
How can moral feelings be cultivated?
External sanctions and education.
the more we are educated and become impartial, the more we will see our lives improve
What is the basic outline of the argument for utilitarianism?
Premise 1: The only proof that something is desirable is that people actually desire it
Premise 2: Happiness is good because all people desire their own happiness
Conclusion: Happiness is at least one end of morality
How does Mill back up Premise 1?
Analogies
The only proof that something is visible is that people see it
The able proof that something is audible is that people hear it
How might Moore criticise the first premise?
Naturalistic Fallacy
Just because it is natural and logical does not mean that it is morally good
How might Hume criticise the first premise?
Is-Ought Problem
We cannot make statements about what ought to be based on what is. Mill uses desire in a descriptive and then a prescriptive way (it is capable of being desired, it ought to be desired)
How might the Fallacy of composition criticise the first premise?
What is true for an individual is not necessarily true for the entire group
How does Warnock defend Mill’s first premise?
Argues that Mill is not trying to prove that there is a rational explanation to the theory, he is just stating fact. If you criticise it, it is because you don’t understand it
Egoistic hedonism
Desiring one’s own happiness
Universal hedonism
Desiring everyone’s happiness
What is the problem in the link between Egoistic and Universal hedonism?
Just because one may desire their own happiness does not mean that they will desire the happiness of others
General Happiness Principle
Actions are morally good insofar as they generate happiness and avoid pain
Why does the General Happiness Principle fit the idea of a first principle?
First principles cannot be proven and nor can the human pursuit of happiness
How can the hoist be persuaded to search for collective happiness?
Education
Aggregative Assumption
Mill assumes that all kinds of happiness can be summed together
Impartiality Assumption
When summing happiness together, the distinction between people is irrelevant
Moral Assumption
Concern for others is to be taken seriously
Teleological Assumption
Morality is grounded on the generation of good ends
What does Crisp argue about Mill’s assumption
Assumptions make the premise more plausible. He sees the debate not as naturalism v. intuitionism but as what kind of intuitions we should accept
Why is the separation of virtues and happiness unjust?
Virtue is merely part of happiness. It is like money: people want it so that they may be happy
What would Hume argue with regards to the psychological aspect of utilitarianism?
If utilitarianism is grounded in psychology, then to what extent is it descriptive and not prescriptive?
What is injustice?
1) Deprivation of legal rights
2) Deprivation of moral rights
3) Not receiving just deserts
4) Breaching of contracts
5) Lack of equality
Perfect duties
The duties that one has a right to demand and are necessary for a functioning society
Imperfect duties
Duties that one has no right to command and are not necessary for a functioning society (e.g. charity)
Where does the sentiment of Justice derive from?
1) Impulse of self-defence (shared with animals)
2) Feeling of sympathy (unique to humans)
Social utility is the only thing that is grounded X
Empirically
Example of social expediency
Is it more expedient to sentence someone to death or to life in prison?
What main thing in society merely forms a part of utility?
Justice
What is the essence of Justice?
Individual rights
How can the relationship between Justice and Utility make Mill a Rule Utilitarian?
He wants rules to protect the rights of the individual
Why is Mill a weak rule utilitarian?
He argues that social rights can be violated in the interests of expediency
GE Moore
Ideal Utilitarianism
- Pleasure is not the only motivating factor, there is also freedom, knowledge, justice, and beauty
Henry Sidgwick
Motive Utilitarianism
- Not a Godless doctrine as he emphasised agape and Golden Rule
- Motive was important in the moral worth of an action
RM Hare
Two Level Utilitarianism
- Rule Util. to be used when there isn’t time for critical thinking or you cannot trust your thinking
- Act Util. used when prima facie principles conflict or in unique cases
Peter Singer
Preference Utilitarianism
- Goodness should be treated well. they have preferences and self awareness
- This does not extend to all animals or even some babies
