Utilitarianism A01

Question 1

Bentham & Utility

Answer 1

• Bentham was a legal moral philosopher and used his works on clear value we seek pleasure and avoid pain.
• Bentham’s starts his observation in human nature.

Question 2

Human Nature to Bentham

Answer 2

• Bentham suggests that pain and pleasure are our masters, nature has built us this way, it is not God that has made us nor logical reason.

‘Nature has placed mankind under the two sovergeign masters pleasure and pain’.

Question 3

Utility

Answer 3

-Ability or capacity of a good or service to be useful and give satisfaction to someone.

• Actions should be carried if they will increase the amount of happiness.
• In A Fragment on Government Bentham argues that is the greatest happiness of the greatest number’ which measures right and wrong.

Question 4

The Hedonic Calculus

Answer 4

• Bentham provides a way of calculating utility.
• 7 factors which need to be taken into account when making a decision.

Intensity
Duration
Certainity
Propinquity
Fecdunity
Purity
Extent

• You should balance all these to calculate the outcome which can conflict.

Question 5

Rule Utilitarianism

Answer 5

-a utilitarian theory asserting that the morally right action is the one covered by a rule that if generally followed would produce the most favorable balance of good over evil, everyone considered

Question 6

Higher and Lower Pleasures (Mill)

Answer 6

• Mill supports the utility principle but rejects Bentham’s hedonic calculus. For mill, quality of pleasure is more important then quanity.
• For Mill Lower pleasures are such sex, food, water, and desire.
• Higher pleasure, is reading and intellectual enjoyment.
• Milll thinks to a eudomonia.

Question 7

Making Links (Sexual ethics)

Answer 7

• Mill suggests Government should only be making laws to protect others from people who want to harm them.
• Like Sexual ethics, Mill argues for gay sex is right as they are not harming anyone else.

Question 8

Act Utilitarianism

Answer 8

• Aims to produce a balance of good over evil.
• It takes a situation by a situation.
• It allows flexibility to the situation but it takes a lot of time to weigh all the outside factors.

Question 9

Rule Utilitarianism

Answer 9

• Aims to also balance good over evil.
• We are adapting rules which leads to common goods.
• Mill own example of Non harm and liberty, in allowing induviduals to live freely this allows freedom of the person without feely oppressed by higher powers.
• What happens when rules clash telling the truth and saving a life?

Question 10

Applying Utilitarianism: Trolley Problem

Answer 10

• Devised by Philippa Foot, a train is heading towards children but you can changed it so it hits one elderly tramp then you should.

Utiliatarianism is concerend by outcome.

Question 11

Applying Utilitarianism: Sexuality

Answer 11

• Both Mill & Bentham were keen social reformers who argued for the decriminalisation of homosexuality.
• Utilitarianism is progressive and a forward way of thinking.