Utilitarianism Criticism & Reply Flashcards
What is the criticism of hedonism?
People criticise Bentham for putting forward a theory that promotes animalistic pleasures at the expense of more valuable things
How did Mill defend utilitarianism?
Mill puts forward higher and lower pleasures.
Higher - the one that most people would choose having experienced both, the more intellectual choice
What is the objection to Mill?
People who have experienced a higher and lower pleasure may still choose the lower, sensory pleasure meaning the higher pleasures aren’t intellectual
What differentiation does Mill make for higher and lower pleasures?
There is a difference between preference and action.
We can prefer the higher pleasure, but lazily opt for the sensory, lower pleasure
What is the criticism of minority mistreatment?
Using the greatest happiness for the greatest number as our guide to action can allow mistreatments.
E.g. The police are under pressure to find the murderer in a crime and as a result arrest an innocent man. But ‘catching’ the culprit gives the public happiness. A societies happiness over 1 mans.
Minority’s mistreatment response?
The greatest happiness is not served as the public are given false information and the criminal is free to commit more crimes. For a utilitarian the greatest happiness will be served when the right person is convicted
What is the criticism of calculating consequences?
Utilitarianism assumes we can calculate the consequences of our actions with complete accuracy to determine our choices. Not all of the consequences of our actions can be foreseen.
What is the response to calculating consequences?
We cannot calculate ALL the consequences, but we can to a certain degree of accuracy.
Bentham says an action is not right if it ACTUALLY maximises happiness, only the ‘tendency it appears to have’ maximised happiness.
The utility calculus need not be strictly followed, but needs to be considered
How is utilitarianism too demanding?
The logical conclusion of utilitarianism is that we should give away as much of our possessions without reducing our own happiness too much to improve the lives of those in poverty etc.
It asks us to act unrealistically selflessly
How do utilitarians respond to being called too demanding?
Morality SHOULD be demanding. No point having an ethical code that allows complacency and inaction when there is so much needless suffering.
What is the problems of possible moral status?
In paying attention to only happiness, other moral concerns are lost.
E.G. A promise made to someone surely should take priority to a similar one that will make the promise happier
Kant argues promises are a perfect moral act example - they depend on acting in a way in which everyone should act. If it was okay to break promises they’d be meaningless as there’d be no trust
What is a further example for problem of possible moral status?
Relates to ties to those close to us (family and friends)
If faced with the choice of saving your mother or a move star, surely it is natural and morally commendable to save you mother, even though the movie star created more happiness.
It is wrong for utilitarians to ignore this special and natural bond.
How would a utilitarian respond to problem of possible moral status?
Morality SHOULD be impartial and demanding.
The preference of looking after those close to us is the basis of discrimination and the root of racism.
What is the problem of the possible value of certain motives?
Williams
- a man is forced to choose between shooting 1 to save 19 or all 20 die.
Here, others actions produce the consequences but the individual is held responsible.
This shows that the utilitarian way of calculating happiness falsely paints the picture for moral behaviour.
It only looks at consequences and ignores the crucial role or motives and character. Utilitarianism allows no room for integrity.
By focusing on the overall outcome it ignores the agent’s choices in judging by outcome instead of choices
What does Petit reply to the possible value of certain motives?
Utilitarianism can endorse certain character traits on the basis that they promote the greatest happiness.
Utilitarianism gives a simpler account of what we should do than a virtue or character based approach which make decisions more difficult.
Focusing on just promoting happiness gives a more coherent justification of choices which is applicable to all.
