Utilitarianism Key Terms

Question 1

Utilitarianism

Answer 1

A teleological theory which determines the righteouness of an action based of its consequences.

Question 2

Hedonism

Answer 2

The idea that people are motivated by the pursuit of pleasure.

Question 3

Hedonic Calculus

Answer 3

A tool used to try and assess or estimate the amount of pleasure and pain an moral decision will produce.

Question 4

Act Utilitarianism

Answer 4

A theory that determines the righteousness of an action bases on the sum of pleasure produced compared to the pain.

Question 5

Rule Utilitarianism

Answer 5

A theory that determines the righteousness of an action based on the general rules that can be written based on past experiences as they guarantee happiness for society.

Question 6

Strong Rule Utilitarianism

Answer 6

The idea that the rules that are
established on Utilitarian
principles should never been
broken

Question 7

Weak Rule Utilitarianism

Answer 7

The idea that the rules that are
established on Utilitarian
principles should sometimes be
broken if it is the only way to
achieve the GHGN.

Question 8

Jeremy Bentham

Answer 8

Jermeny Bentham (1748-1832) is a hedonist that believes all humans are motivated by the pursuit if pleasure and avoidance of pain

Question 9

John Stuart Mill

Answer 9

Mill (1806-1873) is a hedonist who believd that peasure is the sole intrinsic good and that the promotion of pleasure and prevention os pain determines out moral decisions. He believes in the quality of happiness not the quantity.

Question 10

David Hume

Answer 10

Introduces the concept of utility into ethics but is not regarded as utilitarian.

Question 11

Francis Hutcheson

Answer 11

Coined the term ‘greatest happiness for the greatest number’ but is not considered to be a utilitarian.

Question 12

Harm Principle

Answer 12

The idea that the actions of individuals
should be limited to prevent harm to other
individuals.